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941.6202 
M193m 
1815108 


REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LI|B?AFjX.,,|  ,n  ,. 

3  1833  00729  8901 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Allen  County  Public  Library  Genealogy  Center 


http://www.archive.org/details/historyofmagheraOOmait 


'  HDST0IRY 


MHEMRFELT, 


W.  H.  MAITLAND. 


REPRINTED  FROM  THE  MID-ULSTER  MAIL 


TTS' 


ii  o 


The  Mid-Ulster  Printing  Work? 
COOKSTOWN. 


1815108 


F    Ma it land,  W      H. 
42955  ~~ 

.54        History  of  Magheraf  elt  ..     Cooks  town 

1916. 

Reprinted  from  the  Mid-Ulster  mail. 


r^> 


B  13700 


NL  31-5200 


The  publication  of  the  following  sketches,  in  reference  to  Magherafelt, 
was  suggested  by  the  celebration  in  1 9 1 3  of  the  tercentenary  of  the  Irish 
Society,  which  was  constituted  to  undertake  the  Plantation  of  Co.  London- 
derry and  which  granted  various  estates  to  twelve  of  the  London  Companies. 

I  regret  that,  owing  to  circumstances  over  which  I  had  no  control,  the 
information  is  not  as  full  as  I  would  have  wished. 

With  gratitude  I  desire  to  acknowledge  ray  indebtedness  to  Mr. 
Maxwell  Given,  C.E.,  Coleraine  ;  Mr.  J.  Yv.  Kernohan.  M.A.,  one  of  the 
Hon.  Secretaries  of  the  Presbyterian  Historical  Association  ;  and  to  Mr.  J.  i. 
Donaghy,  B. A.,  Solicitor  an  1  Registrar  of  th:  Counly  C  vart,  ire  vahuble 
notes. 

W.   II.  MAITLAND. 

MA.GHERATTELT,  AUGUST,  19  6. 


1  BI3700 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Magherafelt,  according  to  tlic  Census  of 
1911,  is  a  town  of  1,233  inhabitants.  It  is 
situated  in  the  southern  end  of  County 
Londonderry,  is  the  recognised  capital  of 
that  portion  of  the  county,  lias  ;x  nourishing 
market,  and  is  situated  in  the  barony  of 
Loughinshollin.  It  is  35  miles  distance  from 
Belfast,  38  miles  from  Londonderry,  and  114 
miles   from   Dublin. 

The  name  Magherafelt,  according  to  some 
authorities,  means  the  "Plain  of  Fegads 
Fort,"  while  others  have  it  "The  Plain  of 
Felta."  It  was  anciently  "Tafelta,"  the 
house  of  Felta.  When  it  first  took  shape  it 
is  difficult  to  say  with  certainty.  It  is  con- 
sidered by  some  to  be  a  town  of  great  anti- 
quity owing  to  the  old  church,  whose  exist- 
ence can  be  traced  as  far  back  as  the  year 
1425.  How  long  prior  to  that  date  the  well- 
known  authorities,  Reeves  and  'Ware,  do  not 
state,  but  it  was  then  considered  the  ancient 
church  of  Magherafelt.  Very  little,  how- 
ever, is  known  of  Magherafelt  prior  to  the 
"Plantation  days-"  No  doubt  there  must 
have  existed  houses,  probably  of  c:tge  work, 
belonging  to  the  native  Irish,  scattered  round 
the  old  church.  There  is  a  tradition  that  St. 
Patrick  considered  it  of  such  importance  that 
he  worshipped  in  the  old  church  and  plated  a 
stone  at  the  bottom  of  the  well  opposite  the 
church  gate.  It  was  believed  that  if  the 
stone  was  lifted  out  the  well  would  go  dry, 
and  remain  so  until  replaced.  In  183G  the 
inhabitants  actually  believed  that  some  time 
previously  the  well  had  become  dry  because 
tho  stone  had  been  removed  for  cleansing 
purposes,  and  had  not  been  put  back.  Tho 
well  was  then  tho  chief  water  supply  for  tho 
town,  and  the  people  declined  to  try  any 
experiment  upon  it.  This  well  is  still  in 
existence,  but  as  the  water  has  been  con- 
demned it  is  seldom,  if  ever,  used. 

There  was  a  prevalent  idea  that  it 
was  originally  intended  to  build  the  town  in 
Megargy,  almost  two  miles  distant  from  its 
present  situation,  and  in  support  of  that  view 
it  is  pointed  out  that  portion  of  that  town- 
land,  comprising  a  number  of  houses,  is  called 
"Tho  Oldtown."  However,  the  generally 
accepted  theory  is  that  Magherafelt  (whoso 
ancient  name  was  identified  by  the  late 
Bishop  Reeves  as  "Teoffigalta")  took 
practical  shape  with  the  "Plantation,"  and 
consequently  wo  may  take  that  period  as  a 
starting  point  and,  in  this  connection, 
it  might  not  be  out  of  place  to  give 
a  short  account  of  that  scheme  which 
is  associated  with  the  name  of  King  James  L, 
known  as  the  Plantation  of  Ulster.  It  was 
tho  outcome  of  a  large  territory  comprising 
tho    greater    portion  of    the  six    Counties  of 


Donegal,  Armagh,  Coleraine,  Tyrone,  Fer- 
managh and  Cavan  falling  into  his  hands, 
owing  to  O'Neill,  Earl  of  Tir-owen,  with 
several  other  chiefs,  having  rebelled  against 
the  Crown  of  England.  They  were  finally 
subdued  and  attained  of  High  Treason,  and 
their  possessions  made  over  to  the  British 
Crown.  Ulster  had  been  notorious  for  afford- 
ing shelter  to  rebellious  subjects,  and  the 
King  determined  to  put  an  end  to  such  a 
state  of  things  by  inducing  English  and 
Scottish  Protestants  to  settle  amongst  a 
penplo  "so  turbulent  as  the  Irish  were."  At 
hist  County  Tyrone  was  the  only  part  con- 
templated as  tho  field  of  operations,  but  Sir 
John  Davys  persuaded  the  King  to  extend  it 
to  the  whole  of  Ulster,  and  the  London 
Companies  were  asked  to  undertake  tho 
Plantation.  On  the  29th  March,  1G13,  the 
Charter  was  granted  incorporating  the  Irish 
Society  and  making  over  to  them  sub- 
stantially the  whole,  of  County  Londonderry. 
Amongst  other  things  the  King  provided  for 
the  appointment  of  a  Recorder  of  London- 
derry, a  sword  bearer,  and  Sergeants  at  Mace. 
Prior  to  the  issue  of  the  Charter,  on  1st 
August,  1G09,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Society 
to  send  four  wise,  grave  and  discreet  citizens 
to  visit  and  view  the  site  of  the  suggested 
Plantation.  This  deputation  consisted  of 
John  Broad  (goldsmith),  John  Munns 
(mercer),  Robert  Treswell  (painter, 
stainer),  and  John  Rowley  (draper).  They 
accordingly  came  over,  viewed  the  land  and 
made  their  report,  which  was  favourable-  It 
might  have  been  otherwise,  but  care  was 
taken  that  it  should  be  favourable,  for  we  are 
told  in  the  "Story  of  the  Irish  Society," 
published  bv  the  Irish  Society's  directions 
in  1913,  that  Sir  Arthur  Chichester,  tho 
Lord  Deputy  in  Ireland,  had  been  instructed 
to  use  the  greatest  care  and  discretion  as  to 
those  with  whom  the  deputation  should  view 
the  land,  and  their  conductors  were  to  be 
men  of  such  understanding  and  experience 
that  they  should  be  able,  "both  by  discourse 
"and  reason,  to  controule  whatsoever  any 
"man  shall  reporte,  either  out  of  ignorance 
"or  malice,  and  to  give  the  undertakers 
"satisfaccon  when  they  shall  be  mistaken  or 
"not  well  informed  of  any  particular." 

Sir  Arthur  Chichester  faithfullv  carried 
out  his  instructions,  for  Sir  John  Davys,  ono 
of  the  King's  Commissio<ners,  wrote  on  28th 
August,  1609,  that  "The  Londoners  have  now 
"come  and  exceedingly  welcome  to  us.  Woo 
"all  use  our  best  rhctoriek  to  persuade  them 
"to  go  on  with  their  plantation,  which  will 
"assure  the  whole  island  to  the  Growne  of 
"England  for  ever.  They  like  and  praise  tho 
"cimtrcy  very  much — especially  the  Banne 
"  ncl  the  river  of  Logh  Foyle." 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


To  givo  a  faint  notion  of  the  condition  of 
the  country  round  Magherafelt,  we  learn 
from  "Hill's  Plantation  of  Ulster,"  that  the 
Commissioners  left  Dungannon  on  21th 
August,  1609,  and  marched  towards  the 
County  of  Coleraine  (now  Co.  Londonderry). 
The  Mountains  of  Sleivgannon  (Slievegallion) 
not  being  passable  with  carriages,  they  were 
constrained  to  pass  by  Desert  Linn  and  Glan- 
conkeane,  neur  to  Killctragh,  the  greatest 
fastness  of  Tyrono.The  road  by  Desert  Lynn, 
however,  although  leading  through  woods  and 
wilds,  was  level  and  had  at  least  one  rare 
attraction  for  Chichester  and  Bodlcy  as 
conducting  them  to  the  celebrated  lake  dwell- 
ing of  Lochinnis-O'Lynn,  on  which  they  were 
determined  to  erect  a  Fort  for  the  protection 
of  coming  settlers  in  that  district-  A  Fort 
was  built,  and  in  1041  was  held  by  Shane 
O'Hagan-  The  lake  is  partly  in  the  townland 
of  Desertmartin  and  partly  in  that  of  Annagh 
and  Moneysterlin — the  latter  being  a 
corruption  of  Mainister  ()•  Fhloinn,  and 
derived  from  a  religious  house,  founded  by  a 
Chieftain  of  the  O'Lynns.  This  position  was 
evidently  one  of  importance,  as  it  gave  its 
name  to  the  district  now  known  as  the 
Barony  of  Loughinshollin. 

After  the  return  of  the  four  "wise  and 
grave  men"  to  England,  and  the  presen- 
tation of  their  report,  the  lands  were  divided 
into  twelve  portions  of  nearly  equal  value, 
in  such  a  manner  that  each  portion  renre- 
sented  an  expenditure  of  £3,333  Gs  8d.  That 
amount  was  afterwards  found  insufficient, 
and  in  1615  a  further  sum  of  £1,606  10s  Od 
was  paid  by  each  of  the  Companies.  The 
Salters  had  five  Companies  associated  with 
them,  viz. — The  Wool-men,  The  Dyers,  The 
Saddlers,  The  Cutlers,  and  The  Joiners,  and 
the  amount  which  each  of  these  contributed 
towards  the  purchase  of  the  Salters'  portion, 
was  as  f ollows :— Salters'  Co.,  £L>,931  6s  8d  ; 
The  Woolmon  (purchased  by  the  Salters), 
£30;  The  Dyers,  £870  0s  Od;  The  Saddlers, 
£585;  The.  Cutlers,  £337  10s  Od  ;  The  Joiners, 
£246— Total,  £4,999  16s  8d.  It  may  here  be 
stated  that  according  to  the  report  of  the 
Morley  Committee  on  the  Irish  Society,  and 
London  Companies,  in  1890,  the  Land 
Commission  advanced  £230,596,  as  the  price 
of  the  Salters'  Estate,  which  was  sold  in  1885- 

On  17th  December,  1613,  at  a  Court  of 
Common  Council,  Mr.  Alderman  Cockaine, 
the  Governor  of  the  Irish  Society,  and  the 
Master  and  Wardens  of  the  several 
Companies  being  present,  the  divisions  were 
numbered,  and  the  numbers  put  on  twelve 
separate  pieces  of  paper,  which  were  rolled 
and  tied  up  separately  and  brought  into  the 
Council  Meeting  in  a  box,  from  which  the 
drawing  took  place.  The  different  Companies 
then  entered  into  possession.  Settlers 
shortly  afterwards  began  to  arrive,  and  it 
whmiis  that  frames  of  houses  wore  sent  over 
with  the     settlers  by     the    Companies.      Pho 


Salters'  portion,  however,  must  have  offered 
great  facilities  for  the  building  of  houses,  aa 
it  would  appear  to  have  been  well  covered 
with  woods.  In  a  report  made  by  a  depu- 
tation appointed  by  the  Irish  Society  to  visit 
the  plantation  of  Ulster  in  1836,  they  stated 
"thero  must  have  been  large  forests  on  the 
"Estate,  as  from  records  of  the  Society  of  all 
"the  orders  for  timber,  most  of  them  were 
"given  on  the  Woods  of  Salters  Town  and  the 
"Society  regularly  paid  salaries  to  tho 
"Rangers  and  Caretakers  of  the  Woods."  In 
Mitchell's  Life  of  Hugh  O'Neill  we  are  told 
that  the  deep  woods  and  thickets  of  Glan- 
conkcano  (the  name  of  that  valley  through 
which  the  Moyola  winded  its  way  to  Lough 
Neagh,  then  the  most  inaccessible  fastness  in 
all  Tyrowen)  afforded  shelter  for  O'Neill  and 
his  followers,  where  he  defied  the  armies  of 
England  for  a  whole  winter.  It  is  also  said 
that  a  "Martin"  could  hop  from  bough  to 
bough,  from  Tobermore  to  the  Lough;  that  a 
person  could  walk  from  Magherafelt  to  Cole- 
raine on  tree  stumps,  and  in  later  years,  that 
bells  had  to  be  attached  to  tho  necks  of 
cattle  grazing  on  Megargy  Rocks  in  order  to 
locate  them,  so  dense  was  the  wood- 

About  the  year  1615  the  Salters'  Co.  sent 
over  an  agent  and  workmen  to  commence 
building  a  Manor  House  and  Bawn,  and  other 
preliminary  works  for  planting  their  estate 
with  settlers. 

To  ensure  that  the  County  might  not  in 
future  be  peopled  wholly  with  Irish,  the  Irish 
Society  (which  was  the  parent  Society)  re- 
solved to  send  out  twelve  boys  from  Christ's 
Hospital,  together  with  other  poor,  to  bo 
apprenticed,  and  the  settlers  were  precluded 
from  taking  Irish  apprentices. 

The  trades,  which  were  considered  proper 
to  introduce  were  : — Weavers  of  Common 
Cloth,  Fustians  (Corduroy)  and  New  Stuffs, 
Trimmers  of  Hats  and  Hatband  Makers, 
Locksmiths,  Farriers,  Tanners,  Fellmongers 
(dealers  in  skins),  Ironworkers,  Glass  Makers, 
Pewterers,  Coast  Fishermen,  Turners, 
Basket  Makers,  Tallow  Chandlers,,  Dyers 
and  Curriers,  and  skilled  workmen  of  these 
trades  were  sent  over. 

Means  were  also  taken  that  as  far  as  pos- 
sible the  customs  of  the  Irish  should  not  bo 
followed,  as  one  of  the  articles  of  the  Plan- 
tation stipulated  that  the  undertakers  "shall 
"use  tillage  and  husbandry  after  the  manner 
"of  the  English  Pale."  Pynnar,  in  his 
survey,  explained  this  to  mean  that  the  lands 
should  not  be  tilled  with  ploughs  attached 
to  horses  tails,  and  Sir  Arthur  Chichester 
gave  a  description  of  their  manner  of  working 
in  a  report  in  which  ho  stated:— "Their 
"short  Irish  ploughs  wero  drawn  by  the  tail. 
"Their  team  consisted  commonly  of  "five  or  six 
"horses,  all  placed  abreast,  having  neither 
"cords,  chains  nor     lines     whereby  to    draw, 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


"but  every  horse  by  his  own  tail,  and  to  every 
"man  a  horse."  The  cruel  practice  was 
subsequently  prohibited  by  Act  of  Parliament. 
The  Charter  also  directed  the  formation  of 
the  County  of  Londonderry — and  the  Barony 
of  Loughinshollin— which  was  taken  from  Co. 
Tyrone. 

In  the  year  1613  two  members  of  the  Irish 
Society  were  sent  over  to  make  inquiry  as  to 
the  erection  of  fortifications  at  Deny  and 
Coleraine,  and  in  the  course  of  their  report 
they  stated  that  the  prices  of  provisions  in 
Ulster  were  15s  for  a  cow  or  bullock  (about 
one  halfpenny  per  lb.),  Is  -Id  to  2s  for  a  sheep, 
2s  for  a  hog,  lid  a  bushel  for  bailey,  4d  a 
bushel  for  oats,  and  lG.s  a  barrel  for  strong 
beer. 

King  James,  wishing  to  be  informed  as  to 
the  progress  made  by  the  several  Companies, 
directed  surveys  to  be  made.  The  following 
appears  in  "Carew's  Survey": — "Hereafter 
"followeth  a  declaration  of  what  is  done  in 
"the  Woods  of  Glanconkeyne,  in.  the  Barony 
"of  Lough  Enish-O-Lyne,  granted  to  the 
"Londoners.  There  is  400  loads  of  tymber 
"feld  and  square!,  and  most  of  it  drawne  to 
"the  Bann  Syde ;  400  trees  wch  lye  ready 
"felled  ;  about  20  Irish  houses  tatched  with 
"chimneyes  buylte  at  the  woods  for  dwellings 
"for  workmen ;  a  house  wherein  Mr. 
"Hilliocko  dwelleth  beinge  of  four  bayes,  a 
"storie  and  half  high  with  a  fflourc,  two 
"chimneyes,  covered  with  horde.  About  200 
"duzen  of  Birtch  poles  felled  for  buyldinge  of 
"scaffoldinge  and  burning  of  bricke  and  tyle. 
"About  100,000  lathes  already  riven  in  the 
"Woods.  By  estimation,  there  have  byne 
"digged  upwards  of  40  sawe  pitts,  in  such 
"places  from  whence  tymber  could  not  bo 
"drawn.  Ffoure  men  contynually  imployed 
"aboutc  making  of  cashes  to  drawe  tymber 
"of  the  woods  to  the  Bann.  About  300  horse 
"load  of  Wattles  lying  ready  in  the  Woods- 
"Two  frames  of  houses  of  six  bayes  apice  in 
"hand,  and  neere  finished  by  Moore  and 
"Wilson.  Tymber  for  one  ship  ready  squared 
"and  sawen;  for  another,  tymber  felled  and 
"squard.  Great  store  of  firewood  for  burn- 
"inge  of  brickes  and  tyle  ready  cutt  at  the 
"water  syde.  Ffoure  and  twentio  oxen 
"eontynnually  imployed  in  the  Woods  for 
"drawinge  of  tymber  to  the  watcr-syde.  In 
"the  Countie  of  Colrayne  wo  neither  found 
"nor  understood  of  anie  thinge  done  or  in 
"hand  to  bo  done  by  the  Londoners  towards 
"the  p'fonnance  of  the  Articklos  of  the 
"Plantation.  Their  agents  receive  the  rents 
"there  and  in  the  barony  of  Lough  Enisli-O- 
"Lyn  from  the  natives,  and  seeke  not  to 
"remove  them,  w'ch  makes  the  said  natives 
"to  conceive  that  they  shall  not  be  displanted, 
"w'ch  is  a  great  hindrance  to  the  Plan- 
"tation  of  that  Countie,  and  ane  vile  example 
"to  their  neighbours.  Workmen  and 
"Labourers       imployed       in     the     Woods:— 


"Shipwrights,  4 ;  Sawyers,  9 ;  Tymber 
"Squarrers,  4;  Waymen,  8;  Tymber  and 
"Wood  Sellers  and  Rafters  of  tymber  and 
"Wood,  12  ;  Cottmen  from  the  Woods  to  the 
"Leape,  9;  Lathe  Renderers,  20;  Overseers 
''thereof,  3  ;  Ffloters  of  tymber  from  the 
"Leape,  3  ;  English  and  Irish  men  employed 
"by  Mr.  Nugent  in  the  Woods  for  the  fellingo 
"and  squaringe  and  bringingc  down  of 
"tymber,  32."' 

The  work  of  the  Plantation  was  not  allowed 
to  go  on  smoothly,  for  according  to  the 
"Story  of  the  Irish  Society,"  already  referred 
to,  an  Irish  conspiracy  to  surprise  and  destroy 
the  new  Plantation  was  discovered  in  1615. 
However,  the  organisers  of  the  conspiracy 
were  arrested  and  brought  to  justice  afteV 
trial  at  Derry,  six  "Gentlemen  of  the  North," 
"who  were  near  kinsmen  of  Tyrone,"  were 
found  guilty  of  treason  and  executed. 

Another  survey  was  made  in  1618  by 
Captain  Nicholas  Pynnar,  who  reported  that 
he  found  Hugh  Sayer  (probably  the  first 
lessee  or  agent)  upon  the  proportion  of  the 
Salters'  Co.  "At  Marifelt  there  is  a  Bawn  of 
"eighty  feet  square  of  lyme  and  stone,  with 
"two  Hankers,  and  the  ('astle  is  now  in 
"building,  being  60  feet  long  and  20  feet 
"wide.  This  is  now  3  stories  high,  and  the 
"roof  ready  to  be  set  up.  The  walls  of  the 
"Bawn  are  not  as  yet  above  10  feet  high. 
"Near  unto  the  Bawn  there  are  seven  houses 
"of  slight  cage  work,  whereof  5  are  inhabited 
"with  poor  men,  the  other  two  stand  waste." 

According  to  the  the  Muster  Roll  of  County 
Londonderry,  there  were  on  the  Salters' 
Proportion— Mr.  Sayer— 16  men;  12  muskets- 
and  4  Halberds. 

A  further  survey  was  made  in  1622,  from 
which  we  learn  that  on  the  Salters'  pro- 
portion there  were  6  freeholders,  one  free- 
holder res'ident ;  12  British  men,  and  348 
natives.  The  Survey  also  states :— "Thi.s- 
"proportion  lies  in  the  fastness  of  Killetra, 
"where  it  is  very  fit  for  the  strengthening 
"of  those  parts.  There  was  a  Castle  and 
"Bawn  erected  between  Mayharyfelt  and 
"Moneymore,  at  the  two  Bade  Moans.  The 
"Drapers  Proportion,  which,  with  Mayhary- 
"felt,  being  finished,  and  Freeholds  of  the 
"said  Manor  well  planted  in  a  convenient 
"Place,  and  large  Paces  cut  through  the 
"woods  for  highways,  will  be  a  great  security 
"to  those  parts,  and  increase  of  traffic  from 
"the  inland  countrys  to  the  said  Lough 
"Neagh."  The  Castle  referred  to  is  evidently 
Salters'  Old  Castle. 

(It  will  be  seen  that  Salterstown  was  a 
more  important  place  than  Magherafelt  in 
1622.) 

The  following  note  is  attached:— "This 
"Manor    House    and    Bawn    begun     by    the 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


"Company  of  Suiters',  and  builded  to  the  first 
"story  has  so  remained  these  six  years,  the. 
"timber  rotting  and  decaying  being  now  used 
"for  a  Pound  for  Cattle." 

From  the  Photo  it  will  be  observed  that 
Magherafelt,  in  1622  was  not  a  very  pre- 
tentious place,  as  it  only  consisted  of  a  Bawn, 
the  house  used  as  a  cattle  pound,  and  ten 
frame  workouses — six  of  which  were  occupied 
two  were  vacant,  and  two  were  in  course  of 
construction.  The  names  under  the  occu- 
pied houses  are: — Thomas  Cooper,  Anthony 
Avery,  Silvester  Fleetwood,  Ellis  Rodfern, 
Joice  Everet,  and  John  Redferm  Those  in 
Saltortown  are  :— Daniel  Hall,  Thomas  Jack- 
son, Richard  Evans,  Edward  Young,  John 
Howgrave,  Widow  Travels,  Rowland  'Way- 
bank,  Walter  Walton,  "Sir.  Birkett, 
minister;  Matthew  Hill,  Mr.  Finch  Miles 
Shingleton,  The  Pitts,  Richard  Averv, 
Thomas  Taylor,  Edward  Foster,  Robert 
Scott.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
at  the  present  time  Robert  Averall,  who 
resides  in  Union  Road,  and  John  Redfern, 
Mullaghboy,  both  are  direct  descendants  of 
the  Averys  and  Redfems  respectively,  who 
came  over  at  the  time  of  the  Plantation.  In 
1624  the  Commissioners  of  Inquiry  appointed 
to  report  as  to  the  further  progress  made  by 
the  several  Companies  in  carrying  out  the 
Plantation  Scheme,  stated  that 'of  the  fifty 
three  and  a  half  townlands  belonging  to  the 
Suiters'  Co.,  eleven  were  planted  with  British, 
and  forty-two  and  a  half  with  Irish— there 
being  147  Native  Irish  Tenants. 

Charles  the  First  sent  articles  to  the 
Common  Council  on  27th  May,  1625 :— "That 
each  of  the  twelve  Companies  woe  to  make 
six  Freeholders  of  one  Balliboe  (i.e.— (JO 
acres),  at  least  upon  every  portion,  and  ten 
leaseholders  for  lives,  to  whom  they  were  to 
set  lands— at  ninopence  the  English  acre  to 
freeholders,  and  twelve  pence  to  leaseholders, 
and  the  rest  of  their  lands  they  might  set  to 
the  natives  (Irish),  who  were  conformable  in 
religion  with  them,  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance and  supremacy,  learned  their 
language,  wore  their  fashion  of  apparel,  and 
resorted  to  their  Churches.  The  freeholders 
were,  according  to  the  original  condition  of 
the  grant,  bound,  amongst  other  stipulations, 
to  build  a  house,  enclose  it,  dwell  therein 
with  their  families,  and  keep  arms  lor  defence. 
They  were  established  for  the  purpose  of 
ensuring  a  sufficient  number  of  Protestant 
Jurors  to  assist  in  the  business  of  the  County 
at  the  general  Assizes,  and  to  further  the 
Protestant  Religion  by  their  residence.  The 
Six  Freeholds  were:— Ballvdrum  (Ballin- 
drum),  Cusheney  (Coolshinney),  Anna 
Knaugh  (Ballynenagh),  Mova<n-o-oy 

(Megargy),  Ballygildrig  (Hallvmuldorg)?  and 
Moywillon   (Mawillian.) 

Fault  was  found  with  the  companies  for 
not   carrying   out     their     undertakings   more 


expeditiously,  and  on  the  28th  February, 
1634,  a  fine  of  £70,000  was  imposed  on  the 
London  Corporation  and  the  Irish  Society, 
the  Charter  was  cancelled,  and  the  surrender 
of  the  estates  was  ordered.  These  demands 
not  having  been  immediately  complied  with, 
proceedings  were  taken  in  1638  ;  the  Charter 
was  revoked,  and  the  lands  seized  by  the 
King-  Subsequently  the  fine  appears  to  have 
been  commuted  to  £12,000  which  was  paid 
to  the  King,  and  the  companies  "pardoned" 
fur  having  broken  the  terms  of  the  Charter. 

The  companies  presented  a  petition  to  the 
Long  Parliament  to  have  the  judgment, 
which  had  been  obtained  against  them, 
cancelling  the  Charters,  set  aside.  The 
prayer  of  the  petition  was  granted,  Parlia- 
ment characterising  the  sentence  as  not  only 
unjust,  but  unlawful,  and  on  the  10th  April, 
1602,  a  fresh  Charter  was  granted  by  Charles 
the  Second — the  Salters'  Company's  being 
dated  5th  June,  1663. 

The  work  of  the  Plantation,  as  will  bo 
gathered  from  the  foregoing,  was  very  slow, 
owing  to  the  trouble  caused  by  the  revocation 
of  the  Charter,  and  the  consequent  dispos- 
session of  the  Companies  and  their  tenant** 
In  addition,  the  natives  looked  with  anything 
but  a  kindly  eye  on  the  "Foreigners,"  and 
were  determined  to  get  rid  of  them  at  the 
first  opportunity.  This  came  in  the  form  of 
the  terrible  Rebellion  of  1041.  That  it  was 
well  planned  may  be  gathered  from  tho 
following,  which  is  culled  from  Sullivan's 
account.  "On  the  night  appointed,  without 
"failure  or  miscarriage  at  any  point  save  one 
"—Dublin  Castle— out  of  'all,  at  which 
"simultaneousness  of  action  was  designed, 
"the  Confederate  rising  was  accomplished. 
"In  one  night  the  people  had  swept  out  of 
"sight,  if  not  from  existence,  almost  every 
"vestige  of  English  Rule  throughout  tho 
"three  provinces." 

So  far  as  is  generally  known,  there  is  no 
published  account  of  the  outbreak,  which 
deals  principally  with  local  details-  Tho 
following,  however,  has  been  obtained  from  a 
very  reliable  source.  It  appears  that  on 
Saturday  evening,  2nd  October,  1641,  a 
message  was  received  in  Magherafelt  that 
the  Irish  had  takert  Moneymore  that  morn- 
ing, and  were  on  their  way  to  attack 
Magherafelt.  The  people  of  the  town  were 
then  called  to  arms  to  the  Castle,  provided 
with  about  15  guns,  and  preparations  were 
made  to  withstand  the  attack.  A  Mr. 
Waring  took  command  of  the  defenders. 
Two  hours  after  the  receipt  of  tho  news  a 
party  of  200  Irish,  under  the  command  of 
Cormack  O'Hagan,  attacked  Magherafelt 
which,  at  that  period,  was  of  mengro 
dimension.  On  being  summoned  to 
surrender,  the  defenders  refused  to  comply, 
whereupon  O'Hagm's  Brigade  made  a 
desperate  assault,  but  the  inhabitants  replied 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


with  such  good  effect  that  O'Hagan  was 
forced  to  retire  in  the  direction  of  Desert- 
martin,  and  took  that  place.  Mr.  Waring, 
anticipating  that  O'Hagan  would  return, 
took  eleven  of  the  best  armed  of  the  defenders 
that  night  under  cover  of  darkness  to 
Bellaghy  Castle,  which  was  held  by  a  small 
garrison,  under  the  Command  of  Henry 
Conway,  M.P.,  and  who  had  plenty  of  arms 
and  ammunition.  Mr.  "Waring  informed  Mr. 
Conway  of  the  attack  on  Magherafelt, 
requested  assistance  and  a  supply  of  arms. 
Mr.  Conway  refused  to  comply.  Mr.  Waring 
then  decided  to  return  to  Magherafelt,  but 
only  six  of  his  followers  would  oecompany 
him,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  25th 
October,  they  set  out  on  their  return 
journey.  When  they  reached  Aghagaskin 
they  were  informed  that  the  Irish  had 
returned  in  force  the  previous  day,  captured 
Magherafelt,  and  burned  the  Church,  Castle, 
and  houses.  Mr.  Waring  and  his  comrades 
then  took  refuge  in  Edward  Brerc's  house,  in 
Aghagaskin,  and  having  fortified  it,  awaited 
developments-  O'Hagan,  with  his  force, 
arrived  in  the  evening,  attacked  the  house, 
but  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  several  killed 
and  wounded-  He  then  abandoned  the  attack 
and  took  his  departure.  Mr.  Waring  re- 
turned to  Magherafelt,  which  he  found  in  a 
terrible  plight.  About  50  men,  women  and 
children  were  wandering  about  in  great 
misery  from  cold  and  hunger,  O'Ha-gan's 
army  having  stripped  them  of  the  greater 
part  of  their  clothing.  Not  having  the 
means  to  assist  them,  Waring  instantly  set 
out  again  for  Bellaghy  Castle,  taking  all  the 
inhabitants  with  him  for  food  and  shelter. 
They  were  followed  by  about  200  Irish,  who 
carried  weapons— but  not  firearms,  but  were 
unable  to  get  to  close  quarters  with  the 
refugees,  owing  to  the  latter  being  armed 
with  guns.  On  approaching  the  Mnyola 
Bridge  they  met  another  party  of  the  Irish 
— both  foot  and  horse — who  charged  them — 
but  a  volley  from  the  guns  sent  them  off  in  a 
panic,  leaving  several  killed  and  wounded 
behind  them.  At  last  the  refugees  reached 
Bellaghy  Castle,  where  they  were  received 
and  afforded  food  and  shelter. 

The  havoc  wrought  by  the  Rebellion  can 
be  better  imagined  than  described.  One 
account,  published  in  16.44,  gives  an  idea,  for 
it  states: — "All  the  country  presented  a 
"deserted  appearance — there  being  only 
"eight  persons  in  Loughinshollin."  The  out- 
break caused  the  settlers  to  seek  refuge  in 
Derry,  Colerainc,  and  Carrickfergus — 
principally  in  Derry— and  it  appeals  each  of 
the  12  Chief  Companies  sent  two  pieces  of 
Ordnance  to  Derry  to  assist  during  the 
Robollion,  in  addition  to  four  ships  laden  with 
all  kinds  of  provisions. 

At  the  termination  of  that  fateful  time 
Ralph  Whistler,  who  became  lessee  of  the 
Saltors'    Estate  in     1620,     naturally     became 


most  anxious  about  the  fate  of  his  pro- 
perty returned  from  England  about  1656, 
but  died  on  the  13th  February,  1657, 
and  was  interred  in  the  Old  Church, 
Magherafelt.  The  monument,  which  is  of  red 
marble,  and  which  should  prove  interesting 
to  antiquarians,  contains  the  following 
inscription : — 

H.S.E., 
RADOLPHFS  WHISTLER, 

Armigeri, 
Qui  Obut.,  13th  February,  1657. 

(Here  is  buried  Radolphus  Whistler,  Esq-, 
who  died  13th  February,  1657.) 

This  Monument  was  removed  to  St. 
Swithin's  Church  on  the  13th  February,  1858, 
for  its  better  preservation  by  the  then  rector, 
Rev.  Charles  King-Irwin,  father  of  the 
Venerable  the  Archdeacon  of  Armagh.  Mi-. 
Whistler  was  evidently  succeeded  by  his 
nephew,  Mr.  Gabriel  Whistler,  who  had  the 
lands  leased  to  him  at  £100  per  year,  payable 
half-yearly,  and  one  fat  bullock,  or  £8  in 
liru  thereof,  lie  must  have  experienced 
enormous  difficulty  in  getting  tenants  to 
settle  upon  the  lands,  as  is  shown  by  a  letter 
written  in  1C91,  in  reply  to  an  application 
for  rent  from  the  Salters'  Co-,  which  also 
gives  a  description  of  the  effect  of  the 
Rebellion,  the  seige  of  Derry,  and  the  trouble 
caused  by  the  revocation  of  the  different 
Charters. 

He  wrote  as  follows  :— 

Honoured  Landlords,— I  lately  received 
a  letter  from  Mr-  Redmayne,  your  Clerk, 
wherein  he  writes  that  he  had  presented 
my  letter  to  you,  and  that  you  were  pleased 
to  order  him  to  give  this  answer  to  me 
that  you  were  credibly  informed  that  my 
losses  in  Ireland  wore'  not  what  I  had  in 
my  letter  represented  unto  you,  and  that 
I  had  got  2  or  £3,000  by  insurances  upon 
your  Estate-_  There  I  beseech  you  to  give 
me  leave  to  inform  you  that  I  am  not  used 
to  write  or  tell  lies,  and  that  what  I  wroto 
to  you  is  true  to  a  tittle  to  the  utmost  of 
my  knowledge,  and  to  the  best  information 
I  can  have,  and  that  my  losses  there  are 
many  hundred  pounds  more  than  I  repre- 
sented to  you-  And  as  to  my  gains  by 
insurances,  in  all  my  lifetime  I  never  made, 
nor  was  concerned  in  any  assurances  what- 
soever of  the  value  of  so  much  as  one 
shilling.  And  that  neither  directly  nor 
indirectly  by  myself  or  any  other  i  ever 
got  so  much  as  the  value  of  one  shilling  by 
any  insurance  whatsoever.  If  tlris  does 
not  satisfy  you  I  will  give  you  my  oath  of 
the  truth  of  it,  in  any  words  whatsoever 
that  you  shall  please  to  nut  it.  Aad  if 
you  please  to  send  for  my  brother,  who 
lives  in  the  City,  and  is  also  your  tenant, 
to  attend  you,  he  will  clear  me  from  this 
aspersion  (for  such  I  cannot  but  take  it  to 


HISTORY'  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


be)  and  set  me  right  in  your  thoughts  as 
to  that:  or  if  any  of  you  please  to  inquire 
of  my  kinsman,  Mr.  John  West, 
Scrivener,  at  the  Stocks  Market,  or  my 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Peter  Joye,  Merchant 
of  your  City,  they  will  satisly  you  1  have 
not  been  concerned  in  anything  of  that 
nature,  they  being  partners  to  most  of  my 
concerns  that  have  occurred  in  your  City 
for  many  years  past.  My  brother,  I  heard, 
made  some  insurances,  but  what  I  know 
not,  nor  was  I  ever  concerned  with  him  in 
it  to  the  value  of  a  halfpenny.  Mr- 
Redmayne  also  says  you  were  pleased  to 
order  him  to  write  that  what  loss  had 
happened  was  upon  improvement  that 
was  upon  their  land,  and  not  on  the  land 
itself,  and  that  your  rent  was  in  the  nature 
of  a  ground  rent,  and  therefore  ought^  to 
be  paid  without  any  manner  of  delay.  You 
may  call  it  what  you  please,  but  sure  I  am 
it  is  a  land  rent,  an  Irish  and  a  great 
rent,  as  affairs  have  happened  there,  and 
I  beg  leave  to  inform  you  what  rent  it  hath 
been,  and  what  hath  been  the  fate  of  that 
estate  ever  since  it  was  first  granted  to  the 
Company,  and  my  uncle  and  I  have  been 
your  tenants.  In  the  year  1615,  King 
James  the  1st  granted  the  Irish  lands  to 
your  City.  In  the  year  1617  your 
Company  had  their  portion  of  land  settled 
upon  them.  From  that  time  to  the  year 
1627,  you  kept  the  lands  in  your  own  hands 
and  managed  them  by  three  succeeding 
agents,  who  let  them  to  tenants  for 
thirtv,  and  to  others  for  forty  years,  at 
£122  in  the  whole,  as  by  rent  roll  I  have, 
out  of  which  the  agent's  salary  and  other 
public  charges  being  paid  or  never  received, 
as  I  was  more  than  30  years  since  credibly 
informed,  and  believe  you  may  find  by 
your  book  £80  was  paid  in  the  year  1627. 
The  Company,  for  £100  of  a  fine  and  the 
perscnt  rent,  granted  the  lease  to  my  late 
uncle  who  held  it,  but  to  the  year  1631, 
when  an  information  was  exhibited  by  tho 
then  Attorney-General,  on  behalf  of  King 
Charles  the  1st,  in  the  then  Court  of  Star 
Chamber,  against  the  City  of  London,  upon 
pretence  of  not  performing  agreements  and 
Covenants  concerning  their  Irish  lands, 
and  that  coming  to  a  bearing  suddenly 
after  the  Court  of  Star  Chamber,  lined  tho 
City  £70,000,  and  ordered  all  their  lands 
in  Ireland  to  be  seized  into  the  King's 
hands,  which  was  immediately,  accordingly 
done,  and  the  City  and  other  Companies' 
tenants  turned  out  of  possession.  The  City 
of  London  finding  the  Court  against  them, 
and  to  get  clear  of  that  monstrous  fine  of 
£70,000,  compounded  with  tho  King  and 
gave  all  their  lands  in  Ireland  to  the  King, 
and  accordingly  their  patents  were  made 
void  in  the  Court  of  Chancery,  and  tho 
King  had  the  possession  and  profits  of  all 
their  lands  until,  in  the  year  1640,  a 
Parliament  was  called  in  England,  where- 
upon tho  Companies'     tenants  in     Ireland 


camo  over  and  petitioned  against  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Court  of  Star  Chamber- 
The  parliament  referred  it  to  a  Grand 
Committee,  of  which  my  late  uncle  and 
your  then  tenant's  brother  was.  After 
more  than  six  months'  attendance  and 
examination,  the  parliament  upon  report 
of  the  Committee,  in  May,  1641,  camo  to 
twenty-two  resolutions,  all  of  which  I  have, 
but  are  too  long  now  to  trouble  you  with, 
the  18th  of  which  is  in  these  words — 
"Resolved  that  upon  the  whole  matter  the 
sentence  in  the  Star  Chamber  was 
arbitrary  unlawful  and  unjust,  and  tho 
22nd  resolve  is — That  the  opinion  of  this 
house  is  that  they  think  fit  that  both  tho 
citizens  of  London  and  those  of  the  New 
Plantation  in  Ulster  and  all  undertenants, 
and  all  those  put  out  of  possession  shtll  bo 
restored  to  tho  samo  state  they  were  in 
before  the  sentence  in  the  Star  Chamber, 
and  accordingly  the  Parliament  addressed 
the  King  to  regrant  the  lands  to  the  City, 
for  it  was  in  the  King's  hands  by  the 
surrender  of  their  Charter.  The  King 
declared  he  would  restore  them  and  ordered 
a  patent  to  be  made  accordingly,  but  whilo 
the  Companies'  tenants  were  attending  to 
October,  1641,  broke  out  the  £,:ea. 
rebellion  in  Ireland.  Within  a  few  day3 
all  the  houses  whatsoever  in  the  County  of 
Londonderry,  except  the  City  of  Derry 
and  the  town  of  Coleraine,  and  one  poor 
tenant's  house  that  stood  in  tho  woods, 
and  so  of  all  the  province  of  Ulster,  except- 
ing the  great  towns  of  strength  wero 
burnt,  and  the  Protestants  that  could  not 
make  their  escape  to  some  place  of 
strength  were  murdered,  and  all  tho  stock 
they  had,  both  of  live  and  dead  goods, 
were  taken  away,  and  from  that  time  to 
the  year  1656  there  was  not  so  much  as  a 
single  inhabitant  (Protestant)  on  your 
lands,  no  upon  any  other  of  the  Companies' 
lands  that  I  ever  heard  of.  In  tho  year 
1656  all  the  lands  being  in  the  Crown, 
and  Cromwell  having  the  government  he, 
upon  application,  granted  a  Charter  to  tho 
City  of  all  their  lands  again,  and  then  my 
uncle,  your  then  tenant,  went  over  and 
suddenly  after  died  there,  when  the  leaso 
came  to  me,  and  in  the  year  1057,  I  went 
aver  and  got  a  few  straggling  people  to 
come  upon  your,  lands,  but  all  I  could  get 
out  of  it,  for  four  years,  until  1660,  was 
but  £134  above  the  public  taxes  laid  upon 
it.  The  Company  then  claimed  4  years 
rent,  from  1656  "to  1660,  and  were  pleased 
to  accept  £160  for  it,  which  was  more  by 
£26  than  ever  I  made  out  of  it.  In  tho 
year  1660  King  Charles  the  2nd  returned, 
and  your  lands  were  again  in  tho  King's 
hands,  Cromwell's  patents  being  void,  and 
in  the  year  1662,  King  Charles  the  2nd, 
upon  application  from  tho  City,  and  in 
pursuance  of  his  father's  promise  and 
declaration  by  patent,  again  granted  your 
lands  to    the    City.    In    tho    year    1663, 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


the  City  or  the  Irish  Society  granted  your 
proportioo  to  you,  for  until  then  you  nor  I 
had  not  title  to  it,  and  from  that  year,  for 
many  years  your  full  rent  and  the  public 
taxes  could  not  be  made  out  of  it.  But  it 
is  true  what  could  not  be  got,  the  Company 
was  pleased  to  abate,  as  by  your  books  will 
appear,  but  until  the  year,  1077,  I  got 
little  out  of  it  above  what  you  had  and 
the  taxes,  and  what  I  did  I  laid  out  with 
many  considerable  sums  I  carried  from 
England  to  re-build  the  tenants'  houses 
that  were  burnt  in  the  rebellion.  It  is 
true,  by  the  year  1677  I  had  got  it  planted, 
and  it  turned  out  to  advantage,  but  being 
in  taxes  it  was  settled  low  ;  and  that  we 
should  have  no  more  troubles  there,  I  laid 
out  the  most  of  it  in  rebuilding  the  two 
chief  houses,  and  making  them  strong  for 
a  defence  for  the  Protestants,  of  that 
County  to  fly  into  in  case  of  a  sudden 
massacre,  as  the  great  rebellion  was,  which 
houses  are  now  again  burnt-  But  so  soon 
as  the  late  King  came  to  the  Crown,  he  put 
the  Government  and  arms  in  Ireland  into 
Popish  hands,  and  thereby  put  the  Protes- 
tants in  fear,  so  that  trade  and  rents  began 
to  cease,  and  the  people  that  had  anything 
considerable  to  remove  out  of  that  King- 
dom, and  no  it  continued  until  the  happy 
revolution.  But  when  the  late  King 
James  was  in  Ireland,  and  summoned  his 
Parliament,  as  he  called  them,  there,  that 
parliament,  by  public  act,  which  1  have 
made  void  your  charter,  and  granted  all 
your  lands  to  King  James,  not  so  much  as 
saving  the  right  of  one  single  person. 
And  at  the  same  time  happened  that  fatal 
seige  at  Derry,  into  which  almost  all  the 
people  of  that  County  that  had  either 
purse  or  strength,  and  were  not  fled  into 
England  or  Scotland,  went  and  were 
beseiged  1G  weeks,  and  wherein  many 
thousands  died,  of  which  1  have  above 
sixty  whoso  hands  I  now  dearly  want. 
And  when  that  siege  was  raised  the  Irish, 
out  of  malice,  burnt  almost  all  the  whole 
country,  some  few  houses  excepted,  and 
drovo  and  carried  away  all  their  cattle 
and  goods,  and  left  only  a  few  poor, 
naked  people  ready  to  perish  for  want. 
And  sure  I  am,  were  you  truly  sensible  of 
the  miseries  that  Kingdom  has  suffered, 
and  wherein  the  County  of  Londonderry 
by  that  seige,  and  therein  the  loss  of  the 
people,  and  by  fire  and  robbery  of  their 
houses  and  goods  have  lost  more  than  any 
County  in  Ireland,  you  would  rather  think 
them  object*  lit  to  be  relieved  than  take 
anything  from  them  for  what  is  past.  It 
was  not  in  your  nor  my  power  to  hinder 
what  hath  happened.  War,  fire  and  the 
sword  had  done  it,  and  I  am  a  very  great 
loser  by  it,  never  to  bo  repaid.  Never  will 
that  Kingdom,  in  20  years  of  peace,  be  put 
into  the  condition  they  were  before  theso 
calamities  happened,  besides  the  vast  losses 
to  the  owners.    In    the    meantime  I     have 


writ  you  the  truth  of  what  hath  befallen, 
and  beg  your  pardon  that  I  have  been  so 
tedious,  but  in  less  I  could  not  lay  before 
you  the  misfortunes  that  have  attended 
our  unhappiness  there-  I  only  further 
entreat  that  you  will  please  to  do  to  me  a.s 
you  would  be  done  by  were  you  in  my  con- 
dition, and  that  you  will  give  mo  leave  to 
subscribe  myself, 

Your  humble  servant, 

GABRIEL  WHISTLER. 

Matters  remained  in  any  tiling  but  a  satis- 
factory state  after  the  quelling  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  the  succeeding  of  James  II.  to 
the  Throne  did  not  tend  to  smooth  them. 
The  appointment  of  the  Earl  of  Tirconnell  (a 
strict  Roman  Catholic)  to  the  office  of  Lord 
Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  created  a  great  deal  of 
unrest  amongst  the  Protestants,  and  they 
solicited  the  services  of  William— Prince  of 
Orange— who  landed  in  England  in  1688.  The 
large  majority  of  the  people  in  Ireland  were 
Catholics,  and  they  assisted  King  James. 
Civil  war,  with  all  its  horrors,  again  broke 
out,  Magherafelt  being  taken  by  part  of  the 
followers  of  King  James,  who,  according  to 
Lewis,  used  the  Old  Church  as  a  barrack, 
which  saved  it  from  being  burned.  The  Castle 
had  been  destroyed,  and  they  plundered  the 
town  and  caused  the  settlers,  who  were  not 
able  to  leave  for  England  or  Scotland,  to  lice 
to  the  mountains  and  to  Berry  City — a 
number  of  them  taking  part  in  the  memor- 
able siege  in  1689. 

The  Castle  at  Salterstoun,  which  had  been 
erected  by  the  Salters'  Co.  at  the  time  they 
got  possession  of  their  Estates  was,  during 
the  Rebellion  of  1641,  held  by  a  small  guard 
of  probably  about  twenty  men.  They  were 
attacked  by  Sir  Phelim  O'Neill,  who  captured 
the  Castle,  and  held  it  until  1643  or  1644, 
when  the  advance  of  the  British  forces  com- 
pelled him  to  retreat  into  County  Cavan- 
Beforo  leaving  he  burned  the  Castle  and 
Church.  The  latter,  it  is  said,  was  situated 
a  short  distance  from  the  Castle — about  two 
fields  length.  The  keeper  of  the  Castle  and 
the  rector,  Mr.  Birkct,  escaped  across  the 
lake  in  1641,  but  they  and  their  families 
subsequently  died  of  "  starvation  at  Carrick- 
fergus. 

The  Castle  and  bawn  were  rebuilt  about 
1677  by  Gabriel  Whistler— the  then  lessee  of 
the  Estate,  but  it  was-  again  destroyed  by 
the  army  of  James  the  Second  in  its  retreat 
after  the  relief  of  Derry.  The  ruins  of  this 
second  Castle  arc  those  now  existing. 

After  the  defeat  of  James  at  the  Boyno, 
matters  became  normal  for  a  time,  *  the 
settlers  who  returned  applying  themselves  to 
improving  their  property  and  making  and 
repairing  thie  roads.  The  method  by  which 
theso  were  repaired  in  those  days  would  seem 
very  novel  to  us  in  this  twentieth     century. 


8 


HISTORY  OF  M  AGHERAFELT. 


There  was  an  Act  passed,  entitled:  "The  Six 
Days  Labour  Act,"  which  enacted  "that  for 
"every  plough  land  in  tillage  or  pasture, 
"occupied  by  a  person  in  the  same  parish, 
"and  every  one  keeping  a  plough,  shall  send 
"to  the  place  appointed  i'of  the  amendment 
"of  the  highways  in  that  parish  one  cart 
"furnished,  etc-,  with  oxen,  or  horse  and  two 
"able  men-"  And  this  was  further  enforced 
by  Queen  Anne,  c.  9,  sec.  2,  which  enacted 
that  the  major  part  of  the  parishioners  who 
shall  meet  yearly  in  Easier  week  may  agree 
to  divide  the  whole  way  or  keshes  to  be  made, 
and  allot  so  much  of  the  highway  as  can  be 
finished  by  the  six  days'  work  in  that  year, 
and  to  continue  yearly  till  the  whole  high- 
way was  repaired,  and  section  3  stipulated 
that  no  person  was  to  be  obliged  to  travel 
two  miles  beyond  the  limit  of  his  parish*  to 
work  at  any  highway. 

From  this  it  is  apparent  that  it  was  the 
duty  of  the  vestries  who  met  during  Easter 
week  to  have  the  roads  made  and  kept  in 
repair  by  the  parishioners  themselves,  as 
each  person  (a  labourer  excepted)  was  to 
give  six  days  free  labour,  and  in  order  that 
the  work  would  be  properly  done  the 
Vestries  appointed  Overseers  of  the  High- 
ways. In  1717  Major  Thomas  Ash,  Captain 
Thomas  Hammersly,  Wm.  Johnston,  Killy- 
faddy,  and  John  Bunting,  Killyncese,  were 
appointed.      This    was     continued    till     1720, 


when  Major  Thomas  Ash  was  appointed 
Supervisor  of  the  Highways,  and  Richard 
Handsbury  and  Andrew  Morton,  assistants. 
In  1721  Thomas  Trotter,  sen.,  and  Wm. 
Allison,  were  chosen  overseers  of  the  highway 
leading  from  the  Market  House  of  Maghera- 
felt  to  Moncymoro,  and  at  a  special  meeting 
of  the  Vestry  held,  pursuant  to  an  Act  of 
Parliament,  for  the  repairing  of  the  highways, 
on  the  Gtli  October,  1736,  a  Wm.  Doherty  was 
appointed  Director  of  the  said  Parish,  and  it 
was  resolved— "that  a  sum,  not  exceeding 
"£2,  be  paid  Mr.  Doherty  for  his  troulbe,  as 
"the  parishioners  shall  judge  he  deserves  it, 
"and  that  sum  to  be  levied  off  the  parish." 
This  sum  was  paid  yearly  for  many  years.  In 
1763  this  system  was  abandoned  and  replaced 
by  Grand  July  Presentment. 

The  non-existence  of  an  easily  obtainable 
successive  record  of  Magherafelt  from  tho 
Plantation  days  is  a  real  want.  It  would  bo 
of  the  utmost  interest  and  very  much  prized- 
An  effort  was  made  to  obtain  information 
from  the  Records  in  possession  of  the  Salters' 
Co.,  for  tho  purpose  of  enabling,  as  far  as 
possible,  such  an  account  to  be  prepared,  but 
it  proved  unsuccessful,  the  Company  not 
seeming  anxious  to  impart  the  necessary 
data,  or  allowing  it  to  bo  abstracted.  There- 
fore these  notes  are  not  as  full  as  tho  com- 
piller  would  have  wished. 


c    j        sHUw.ToW*. 


Cr^ 


^7/ 

/ 


MS   Av 


;|2L 


ii3A 


@ 


(Copy  of  a  drawing  on  Vellum,  in  possession  of  the  Suitors'  Co.,  without  date,  but  which, 
on  examination,  appears  to  be  copied  from  a  book  now  in  possession  of  the  Drapers'  Co., 
entitled:  "A  true  survey  of  the  present  estate  of  the  Plantation  of  the  County  of  London- 
deny,  taken  by  Sir  Thomas  Phillips,  Ki.,  hy  virtue  of  His  Majesty's  Commission  under  the 
greate  seale  of  Ireland,"  bearing  date  the  30th  daye  of  July,  1G22,  and  addressed  "To  the 
most  high  and  mightie  Monarch,  Charles  the  First." 


>num  cj  Irr  Una       <7he  Gentle w&man  of  Ireland. 


Jfie^U'dl'  Trjfh  Mh 


(from  an  enj. 


0,  by 


OLD  1 1, !i.-  II  TYPES 

i  of  the  iiroiiriutors  of  the  "Belfast  Evening  Tolegrnp! 


MA  G  HERA  FELT  1 50  Y  EA  R  S  A  G  0 . 


The  next  reliable  account  \vc  have  of  tlio 
town  of  Maglierafelt  is  that  contained  in  the 
Terrier  (Rental)  of  the  Suiters'  Co.,  issued  in 
respect  of  the  half-year  ended  1st  November, 
1752,  which  gives  a  description  of  the  princi- 
pal occupiers : — 

Wm,     Allison — A    thatched    house  of     two 

storey  and  a  garden. 

Wm.  Reynolds'  Executors — A  low  thatched 

house- 
Rev.  Mr.  Wallace— A  tenement — the  house 

down- 
Widow  Fulton — A  low  thatched  cabin. 
Executors    of      Thomas     Trotter,     sen.— A 

shingled  house  one  storey  and  a  half  high. 

Wm.  Ash — Two  shingled  houses,  each  two 
stones  high;  one  shingled  honse,  one  and  a 
half  stories  high,  and  a  malt  kiln,  part  of  ifc 
shingled  and  part  thatched- 

Wm.  Fleming — One     shingled     house,   two 
stories  high,  and  two  of  a    storey  and  a  half 
each- 
Robert  Ivilpa trick— A  cabin. 
Robert  Semple— The  like. 

Mrs.  Warburton — Three  shingled  houses  of 
one  storey  and  a  half  high,  and  three  low 
cottages  of  one  storey. 

John  Campbell,  Trent— A  shingled  house  of 
two  stories. — 

Thomas  Burney— A  thatched  cabin. 
John  Boggs— The  like. 
Wm-   Hall— Same. 
Robert  Nelson — Same- 
John  Nelson— Same. 
James  Neyser — Same. 
Alexander  Brady — Same 

Wm.  Given — A  shingled  house  two  stories 
high. 

Widow  Burnett — A  small  shingled  house  of 
one  storey  and  a  half  high. 

Thomas  Trotter — A  shingled  house  of  one 
storey. 

George  Houston — A  cabin. 
Nicholas  Logan — Same- 
Robert  Berkley — A   malt  house,   shingled- 
Robert     Rainey— A     singled      house     two 
stories  high. 

From  the  foregoing  it  would  appear  that 
Magherafelt  was  not  a  very  important  town, 
as  it  only  consisted  of  thirty-two  houses,  a 
Malt     tfiln     and  a     Malt    House.     Of  those 


mentioned  as  the  occupiers,  none  of  the 
names  are  extant  to-day,  except  that  of 
Semple,  represented  by  Mr.  John  Somple, 
woollen  draper,  Rainey  Street.  But  it 
seems  that  although  his  ancestors  were 
amongst  the  first  settlers,  they  took  up  their 
abode  in  Aghagaskin,  and  their  deseendante 
continued  there  till  a  comparatively  short 
time  ago.  They  have  been  interred  in  the 
Old  Church  Burying-ground. 

In  17GG  a  Parliamentary  Return  as  to  the 
Religious  Denomination  of  the  families  in 
'each  parish  in  Ireland  was  callod  for,  and  the 
Rector  was  tho  person  on  whom  devolved  the 
making  of  tho  return.  Tho  following,  for 
Magherafelt  Parish,  was  taken  on  the  28th 
day  of  March,  17G0,  by  Rev.  James  Richard- 
son, "Parish  Minister  of  Magherafelt,"  from 
1738  to  1771.  He  returns  625  families  alto- 
gether, and  classifies  them  thus:— "Protes- 
tants of  he  Established  Church,  148; 
Protestant  Dissenters,  274;  Papists,  203.  He 
adds: — 'No  Popish  Priests  or  Fryars  reside 
in  this  Parish-" 

Wo  give  the  names  as  returned  and  classi- 
fied, and  it  will  be  noticed  that  many  of  them 
are  represented  at  the  present  day,  after  a 
century  and  a  half- 
Protestants— Rev.  James  Richardson, 
rector;  Edward  Betty,  Samuel  M'Elroy, 
Abraham  Keightly,  Robert  Brodly,  Robert 
Itedfern,  Benjamin  Redfern,  James  Lenox, 
Margaret  M'Connel,  Widow  ;  James  Holdcu, 
William  Lenox,  William  Nodwell,  Matthew 
Nodwell,  William  Nodwell,  younger  ;  Richard 
Hawthorn,  Tracey  Dawson,  James  Leckey, 
Henry  Hall,  George  M'Calla,  John  Downing, 
Joseph  Reynolds,  John  Reynolds,  William 
Winchester,  Mary  Reynolds,  Widow ;  Henry 
Reynolds,  Alexander  Lawson,  John  Johnston, 
Archibald  Brodly,  Thomas  Redfern,  Roger 
Palmer,  Jane  Brown,  Widow  ;  Elizabeth 
l'ullerton,  Richard  Dawson,  William  Haw- 
thorn, Daniel  Reynolds,  Gerard  Carloton, 
Elisabeth  Campbell,  Widow ;  Daniel 
M'Quilkin.       George  Nowles,  Thomas 

M'Murray,  Elisabeth  Conyngham,  Widow; 
Thomas  Man,  James  York,  Jane  Graves, 
Widow  ;  Thomas  Lawson,  Henry  Hall,  Joseph 
Donnison,  James  Kane.  Henry  York,  George 
Foster,  Samuel  Murdagh,  John  Leckay, 
younger  ;  Joseph  Mallard,  William  M'Lane, 
Edward  Marlin,  William  Marlin,  James 
Collins,  Daniel  M'Gonigill,  Henry  Dornan. 
Georgo  Burrows,  John  Buntin,  Samuel  Pue, 
Anthony  Buntin,  Mary  Williams,  John  Hill- 
man,  Michael  Buntin,  Charles  Greer,  Olivia 
Fox,  Charles  Brown,  John  Hamersly,  James 
Purdoc,  Ralph  Brodly,  Thomas  M'Gurk, 
Thomas  Graves,  Richard  Murdock,  William 
Brown,  Francis  Morgan.     Alexander    Brown, 


10 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


William  Peacock,  John  Brown,  John  Boggs. 
Thomas  Barnett,  Joseph  Bennett,  Robert 
Brown,  James  Carothers,  Richard  Stanley, 
Thomas  Deacon,  Bartholomew  Clark.  John 
Devlin,  Randlo  Cox,  Michael  Stanley,  James 
Cox,  Elisabeth  Lawson,  Widow  ;  Richardson 
Williams,  James  Miller,  Thomas  Richardson, 
Robert  Garven,  Patrick  Hillman,  Edward 
Tipper,  Francis  Garven,  William  Taylor, 
Francis  Searson,  Thomas  M'Vey,  Robert 
Nolson,  Alexander  Montgomery,  George 
Armstrong,  Margaret  Newton,  John  Jennings. 
Ralph  Brunkard,  Edward  Brown. 

Christophilus  Reynolds,  Hugh  M'Elhone, 
Adam  Hendry,  Richard  Williams,  Robert 
Dawson,  Georgo  Rodgers,  James  Brown. 
Arthur  Tracey,  Sarah  Badger,  Widow; 
William  Badger,  John  Leckey,  Margery  Huey, 
Widow;  John  Redfern,  Joseph  Redl'crn,  John 
Morrow,  John  Nelson.  Mary  Mullen,  Widow; 
John  Whiteside,  Hugh  Mullen,  Archibald 
Williams,         William  Cuddy,  Thomas 

Rodgers,  Richard  Garven,  Joseph  Evans, 
Phillis  Warburton,  Widow ;  Alexander 
Bradey,  Thomas  Johnston,  Jeremy  Hainey. 
Thomas  Brodley,  James  M'Garvey,  Mary 
Vance,  Widow ;  Edward  Whiteside,  Jane 
Whiteside,  Widow ;  John  Mullen.  Andrew 
Frazier,  Hugh  Rodgers,  Thomas  Man, 
Ezekiel  Richardson- 
Dissenters — James  Semple,  James  Bowman, 
Matthew  Johnston,  Hugh  G;irven,  William 
Dickey,  William  Galway.  William  Robinson, 
Georgo  Stuart,  Thomas  Johnston,  Neal 
M'Mullen,  Thomas  Dale,  John  Stuart. 
Samuel  Stuart,  David  Evans,  Joseph  Evans, 
Matthew  Evans.  Samuel  Evans,  Robert 
M'Erlain,  Adam  Robinson,  Joseph  Boll. 
Thomas  Shannon,  Samuel  Shannon,  Hugh 
Con,  Robert  Wiley,  John  Wiley,  William 
Dool,  Hugh  Miller,  James  Taylor.  Joseph 
Pattison,  John  Brown,  Hanna  Duncan, 
Widow ;  Thomas  Ditty,  James  Brown, 
Robert  Steel,  Thomas  Eaken,  Jane  Eaken. 
AVidow ;  James  Rickey,  Alexander  Graves, 
James  Gilmer,  Robert  Gilmer,  William 
M'Garvey,  Moses  Thompson,  James  Brown, 
Matthew  M'Kee,  Mary  Purvis,  Widow; 
Francis  Morton,  Margaret  Morton,  Widow; 
Andrew  Morton,  William  Gray,  Stuart 
Morton,  James  M'Mullen,  Alexander  Wier, 
Moses  Moor,  James  Cathcart,  George  Badger, 
William  Badger,  Joseph  Paul,  George  Camp- 
bell, Jacob  Wilson.  Thomas  Caulfield,  James 
Paul,  Andrew  Hays,  Adam  Costin,  William 
Stuart,  John  Eaken,  William  Hunter,  James 
Stitt,  Kennedy  Henderson,  Samuol  Crawford, 
Sophia  Birkby,  Widow;  James  Willox,  Jane 
Garven,  Widow;  Thomas  Woodworth  ;  John 
Caldwell,  James  Crawford,  Noal  Campbell, 
Neal  M'Erlain,  John  Finlay,  Alexander 
M'Cool,  William  Farlow,  Alexander  Semple, 
Ann  Reed,  Widow ;  James  Long,  Hercules 
Douglas,  Thomas  Dunlop,  Georgo  Eaken, 
Alexander  Wiley,  Francis  Davison,  Robert 
Crawford,  John  Watson,  Andrew  Fullerton. 
William    Parks,    William    Clownish,    Edward 


M'Garvey,  John  Creighton,  Adam  Vance, 
James  Little,  John  Patterson,  Matthew 
Lindsay,  William  Lee,  Joseph  Warden, 
William  Marks,  William  Dempster,  William 
Proctor,  Thomas  Rooney,  James  Caldwell, 
Arthur  Forbess,  David  Duncan,  Matthew 
Harbison,  Thomas  M'Clatchy,  Thomas  Lee. 
Robert  Clark,  John  Johnston,  Elder  ;  John 
Johnston,  Younger ;  James  Millikin,  Rowley 
Mullen,  William  Dobbin,  Duncan  Campbell, 
Matthew  Johnson,  John  Buntin,  James 
Johnston,  John  Brown,  John  Johnston,  John 
Wilson,  Thomas  Robinson,  John  Stuart,  Hugh 
Stuart,  Thomas  Staunton,  Henry  Barry, 
James  Steel.  Elizabeth  Foster,  Widow;  John 
M'Cullogh,  James  Sloss,  James  Sloss, 
Younger;  John  Johnston,  Alexander  M'Kay, 
David  Duncan,  Samuel  Crossan,  David 
Duncan,  Younger;  William  Taylor,  James 
Duncan,  William  Buntin,  James  Hodge, 
Robert  Lee,  Alexander  Christey,  Robert 
Maxwell,  Joseph  Richey,  John  Ditty,  John 
Cannon,  James  Brown,  Andrew  Richey, 
William  Berryman,  John  Graves,  Daniol 
Gravos,  John  Staunton,  Mary  Given,  Widow  ; 
John  Laurence,  Catherine  Given,  Widow ; 
Milium  Gi-.«n  M:r£.ret  Trcttsr.  Widow, 
William  Berfoot,  Catherine  Maghlin.  Sarah 
Duncan,  Widow;  Mary  Duncan,  Widow; 
Mark  Morrow,  James  Booth,  William  Barry, 
Henry  Car,  William  Mills,  William  Ray. 
Matthew  Boden,  Maiy  Campbell,  Widow, 
David  Armstrong,  John  Greer,  James  Greer, 
Elizabeth  Johnston,  Widow  ;  John  Murphy. 
William  Peacock,  Isabella  Burney,  Widow; 
Esther  Brunkard,  Widow ;  William  Steel, 
Samuel  Laird, ..  John  M'Neill,  Michael 
Wallace,  Hugh  Wallace.  James  M'Crackin, 
William  Mullen,  Robert  Houston,  Andrew 
Shannon,  Matthew  Taylor.  James  Taylor, 
Thomas  Ramsay,  Duncan  Swainey,  Matthew 
Kyle,  James  Maghlin,  David  M'Garvey,  John 
Stitt,  John  Hunter,  Hugh  Graham,  David 
Mulholland,  Cornelius  Costin,  Mary  Semple, 
Widow  ;  Archibald  M'Ginnis,  John  Richey, 
George  Patterson.  Thomas  Ditty,  Robert 
Steel,  John  Lewis,  John  Glenholmes,  Joseph 
Thompson,  James  Ditty,  Joseph  Thompson, 
John  M'Murdey,  David  Jennings,  John 
Graham,  Anne  Fulton,  William  Scott, 
Matthew  Allison,  Jeremy  Lindsay,  George 
Lindsay,  James  Houston,  Robert  Conning. 
Andrew  Richey,  William  Car,  Nathaniel 
Mitchell,  William  Stitt.  Maiy  Johnston, 
Widow ;  William  Kirkpatrick,  Alexander 
M'Crackin,  George  Woods.  John  Tomb, 
William  Trotter,  Abraham  Matthews, 
Alexander  M'Mullon,  Andrew  Little,  George 
Benderman.  William  Ditty,  George  Wright, 
Benjamin  Brown,  John  Brown,  James  Brown, 
William  Brown,  Mary  Ann  Brown,  Widow; 
Martha  Taylor,  Widow;  Andrew  Davidson, 
William  Duncan,  Robert  Armstrong,  Mary 
Loughey.  Widow ;  Samuel  Bates,  Georgo 
Graham,  William  Graham,  David  Reed, 
William  Dunlop,  Adam  Burrows,  David 
Graham,  Robert  Burrows,  John  Ditty,  John 
Ditty,  younger;   Samuel  Ditty,  John  Waller, 


MAGHERAFELT  160  YEARS  AGO. 


11 


John  Waller,  Younger ;  James  M'Naught. 
James       M'Naught,        Younger ;  Robert 

M'Master,  Hugh  Broun,  William  Eaken, 
Thomas  Wallace,  Robert  Love,  John  M'Kee, 
Thomas  Maghlin,  George  Philipps,  John 
Askin,  Mary  Wilson,  Widow- 
Papists— Bryan  M'Teig,  Cormick  O'Neill, 
Patrick  Jiulge,  John  O'Neill,  Plielemy  O'Neill, 
Edward  Tole,  Edward  M'Williams,  Bernard 
M'Cann,  Patrick  M'Teig,  Roger  O'Lagan, 
Henry  Tole,  John  M'Atier,  Darley  Morion, 
James  Dowdal,  Patrick  Mulderig,  John 
Griffin,  John  Morrow,  Patrick  Griffin,  Torlagh 
M'Laughlin.         Roger  M'Gillan,        Owen 

O'Hemphey,  Neal  O'Devlin,  Archibald 
M'Donald,  Tolo  Gilmore,  Owen  M'Williams, 
William  Gilmor,  John  Dowdal,  Robert  Brodjy, 
Hugh  Cossily,  Maurice  O'Murray,  James 
M'Quillan,  Daniel  O'Neill,  Patrick  Nocher, 
Dennis  M'Elhone,  Roger  M'Camel,  John 
M'Gonnigill,  Patrick  Conary,  James  M'Atier. 
Thomas  Henry,  Cormick  O'Lagan,  James 
O'Lagan,  John  Morgan,  Daniel  Mulholland, 
Nicholas  Ledan,  Ferdinand  Devlin.  Hugh 
M'Cann,  Dennis  Conary,  Bryan  M'Kelvey, 
James  M'Laughlin,  Andrew  M'Laughlin, 
John  M'Teig,  Thomas  M'Teig,  Bryan  M'Teig. 
Phelemy  Cahan,  John  Gillaspey,  George 
Lawson.  Henry  Taminey,  Owen  O'Morron, 
Hugh  Corr,  Adam  Ward,  Bridget  Henry, 
Widow;  Owen  Toner,  Michael  M'Cann, 
Philemy  Conary.  Mary  Follarty,  Robert 
Coshilley.  Roger  M'Corley,  Connor  M'Analley, 
Bryan  Devlin,  Roger  Lorcan,  Hugh  Mul- 
konnan,  Jolui  Scullion,  Cormick  O'Neill,  Allen 
M'Quaid.  Lewis  Walsh,  Daniel  O'Lorcan. 
Manasses  Mulgrue,  Mieliael  O'Connor, 
Michael  Mulgrue,  Bryan  M'Gonnigill,  Jane 
Morron,  Widow ;  Maurice  Ward,  Roger 
Farril,  Fergus  Ward.  Patrick  Taminev, 
Margaret  O'Neill,  Widow;  Oloshnev  M'Ginni's, 
Owen  Kelly,  James  M'Gurk,  Bryan  M'Gurk, 
Gilldoe  Trolan,  Georgo  M'Camel,  Dennis 
M'Carrol,  James  Flanigan,  William  Chievers, 
Patrick  Chievers,  Thomas  Coshillev.  Hugh 
Coshilley,  Patrick  M'Navall.  Manasses 
M'Navall,  Thomas  M'Navall,  Hugh  M'Navall, 
Dominick  Dawdall.  Henry  O'Neill,  William 
Stevens,  Owen  Mulloy,  Francis  Morron. 
Thomas  Kelly,  William  Mulderig,  Daniel 
Coshilley,  Patrick  Walsh.  Peter  Brodl.y, 
Neal  O'Boyle,  John  M'Owen,  Miles  M'Owen, 
Michael  Short,  Thomas  Mulholland,  Bernard 
M'Guckiu.  Mary  Dunn,  Henrv  Madden, 
Edward  Bovle  Patrick  Slano,  Michael 
M'Navall,  Bridget  M'Canna,  Charles 
Diamond,  Michael  Walsh,  Nicholas  Walsh, 
Bryan  M'Alpin,  Bryan  M'Corrcy.  William 
Barnett,  Daniel  Mulderig,  Matthew  Boylan, 
Torlagh  M'Allester,  Owen  Hughes,  Dennis 
M'Toig.  Thomas  M'Teig.  Edward  M'Laughlin, 


Daniel  Crawford,  Duncan  Gilmer,  Patrick 
Gilmer,  John  M'Gown,  George  Smith,  Owen 
Donnell,  Patrick  Quinn,  John  M'Fillone. 
Patrick  M'Mahon,  Hugh  M'Navall,  Col- 
M'Teig,  Daniel  M'Gorrary,  Eveng  Brodley, 
Patrick  Smith,  Daniel  Mulholland,  Phelemy 
Daily,  John  Docherty.  Cornelius  M'Gonnigill, 
James  M'Gonnigill,  John  Scullion,  John 
Cargan,  Daniel  O'Cahan,  Francis  M'Crystall, 
John  M'Donnell,  Alexander  M'Donnell, 
Charles       M'Camel  Cormick       M'Nichol. 

Alexander  M'Nichol.  Patrick  Shields,  Mary 
Henry,  Widow;  John  Conwall,  John  Henry, 
Thomas  Hagan,  Richard  M'Allester,  John 
Diamond,  Daniel  M'Guire,  James  M'Quaid, 
Richard  M'Quaid,  James  Brodly.  Edward 
Keenan,  Edward  Laverty,  Bryan  Kerney, 
Daniel  Kerney,  Dennis  Keenan,  James 
O'Cahan,  Edward  O'Cahan,  Bryan  O'Cahan, 
Andi-cw  M'Nichol.  Christopher  M'Kay,  Neal 
Quigley,  John  Smith,  Daniel  O'Donnelly, 
Edward  Keenan,  Francis  M'Teig,  Phelemy 
Devlin,  Manasses  Mulholland,  Patrick 
Coshilley,  John  O'Cahan,  James  O'Cuhan. 
Younger;  Michael  M'Eldoon,  Neal  Keenan, 
Murtagh  Keenan,  Dennis  M'Canna,  Bryan 
Car,  Charles  M'Quaid".  Richard  Mulholland. 

There  are  twenty  townlands  comprised  in 
the  Parish  of  Magherafelt,  and  of  the  names 
given  in  the  abovo  Census,  we  find  that  in 
seventeen  townlands  they  are  still  extant,  as 
follows : — 

Aghagaskin— Keightly,      Bradley,     Redfern, 
Lennox,  Johnston,  Bowman,  O'Neill,  Keenan- 
Annaghmore— Dawson,  Stuart,  Bell. 

Ballymoghan— Evans,  Steele,  Eakin,  Richey, 
Huston. 

Ballyheifer— Harbison. 

Ballynocker— Winchester,    Weir.    Marks. 

Coolsliinney— Nodwell.  Dornan,  Burrows. 
Wiley,  Duncan,  Caulfield,  Stitt,  Douglas- 

Dunarnon— Bradley,  Johnston,  Dobbin, 
M'Kee. 

Dunamoncy— Brown,  Lees,  Love- 
Drumrainey— Redfern,  Carleton,     Staunton, 
M'Gurk. 

Killyfaddy— Shannon,  Duncan- 
Lcckagh — Boden. 

Megargy— Kane,  Badger,  Vance,  Dickey, 
Ditty,  Purvis.  Paul,  and  Wright. 

Mullaghboy— M'Gonigle, 

MagherafehV-Keightly,  Greer,  Peacock-, 
Devlin,  Semple,,  Thompson,  Caldwell,  Johns- 
ton. Walsh,  Donnelly. 

Tamnadace— Mann,    Garvin,    Robinson- 
Tullylinksay— Brown,  York,  Dale- 


VOLUNTEERS—  OLD  AND  NEW. 


In  consequence  of  the  introduction  of  tho 
Home  Rule  (Ireland)  Bill  into  the  House  of 
Commons  in  the  year  1912,  and  the  great 
prospect  of  it  becoming  law,  Unionists,  not 
alono  in  Ulster,  but  throughout  Ireland, 
formed  Unionist  Clubs,  so  that  they  would 
be  in  a  position,  if  a  Home  Rule  Parliament 
was  forced  upon  them,  to  refuse  to  recognise 
its  authority.  The  Unionists  iu  and  around 
Magherafelt  were  not  behind  in  this  respect, 
and  Clubs  were  formed  in  Magherafelt, 
Ballymoghan,  Megargy  and  Aghagaskin. 
In  order  to  impress  the  people  of  Great 
Britain  that  the  Unionists  were  in  earnest 
in  their  opposition  to  the  Bill,  a  solemn 
League  and  Covenant  was  drawn  up  for 
signature  by  each  person,  male  and  female, 
who  was  opposed  to  Home  Rule,  and  the 
28th  September,  1912,  called  Ulster  Day, 
was  fixed  as  the  day  on  which  the  Covenant 
should  bo  signed.  The  following  is  the 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  that  day,  and 
which  appeared  in  "The  Mid-Ulster  Mail''  of 
5th  October,  1912:— 

MAGHERAFELT. 

The  utmost  enthusiasm  and  determination 
characterised  the  holding  of  Ulster  Day  in 
this  town.  The  weather  was  all  that  could 
be  desired.  From  a  very  early  hour  Union 
Jacks  were  flown  from  almost  all  tho 
Protestant  business  establishments  and 
private  dwelling-houses — as  many  as  six 
flags  being  displayed  from  some.  The 
Empire's  emblem  also  floated  proudly  from 
the  various  Protestant  churches.  The 
country  people  suspended  work  for  the  day 
and  flocked  into  the  town,  and  on  every 
band  appearances  wore  not  wanting,  that  as 
far  as  the  Protestant  people  of  this  district 
were  concerned,  they  were  determined  that 
they  would  not  submit  to  be  governed  by  an 
Irish  Parliament.  All  the  Loyalists  business- 
houses  were  closed  from  11-30  till  2  o'clock, 
end  tho  town  presented  the  appearance  of 
having  donned  its  Sunday  aspect.  Mr.  John 
Gordon,  K.C.,  M.P.,  arrived  by  the  11-13 
a.m.  train  from  Belfast,  and  received  a  very 
warm  reception.  He  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Brown.  At  11-30  people  began 
to  enter  the  1st  Presbyterian  Church,  whore 
the  United  Religious  service  was  held,  and 
at  12  o'clock,  the  hour  for  commencement, 
the  sacred  edifice  was  filled  in  eveiy  part. 
The  service  commenced  by  the  singing  of  the 
100th  Psalm,  after  which  the  Rev.  E. 
Ritchie,  B.D.,  engaged  in  prayer.  Tho 
Hymn — "0  God  our  help  in  ages  past,"  was 
then  rendered.  The  special  lessons  were  the 
85th  Chap,  of     Isaiah    and     6th     Chap,     of 


Ephesians,  from  tile  10th  to  the  18th  verses, 
and  were  read  by  the    Rev.  G.   W.   Lindsay, 
A.M.     The  46th  Psalm,   2nd  version,   having 
been  sung,  prayed     was    engaged  in  by    the 
Rev.    AY.   E.   Maguire.     An  eloquent  address 
was  given  by  tho  Rev.  G.     Gillespie,     M.A., 
from  the  1st  verse  of  the  46th  Psalm— "God 
is  our  refuge  and     strength,  a  very    present 
help  in   trouble."     The     Hymn— "O   God   of 
Bethel,"     having     been     rendered,  and     the 
benediction    having     been     pronounced,    the 
solemn  service  was  brought  to  a  close  by  the 
entire   congregation     singing     the     National 
Anthem.     The   congregation,    at    whose   head 
marched   Mr.     Gordon,     the     Revs.      George 
Gillespie,  G.  YV.  Lindsay,  E.  Ritchie,  and  W. 
E.  Maguire,   went  to     the  Town  Hall,  where 
ample  provision  had  been  made  for  the  sign- 
ing of  the  Covenant  by  the  men— Mr.  Gordon 
signing  first,  and  he  was     followed     by     the 
clergy,   after   which   the     men     signed.     The 
women  marched  to  tho  Union  Road  Lecture 
Hall,  wliere  the     Covenant     was     signed    by 
them.    The     arrangements     were     admirably 
carried   out  by   the  Hon.    Sees.,   Mrs.   James 
Brown   and     William     Semple.     Both     halls 
remained  open  till  8-30     for  the  purpose    of 
enabling  those  who  could    not     attend     the 
service  to  sign  the  Covenant,  as  follows:  — 
Being      convinced,      in       our       conscience, 
that  Home  Rule     would  be     disastrous  to 
the  material  well-being  of  Ulster,   as  well 
as  to  th0  whole  of    Ireland,  subversive    of 
our       civil        and       religious         freedom, 
destructive     of       our       citizenship,       and 
perilous  to  the  unity  of     the  Empire,  we, 
whoso  names   are     underwritten,   men     of 
Ulster,   loyal     subjects     of     his     Gracious 
Majesty   King  George   V.,   humbly   relying 
on  the  God  whom     our  fathers  in     days  oi 
strife  and     trial     confidently     trusted,   do 
hereby     pledge     ourselves    *    in       Solemn 
Covenant,    throughout      this   our     time   of 
threatened     calamity,    to     stand     by     ono 
another  in   defending     for   ourselves     and 
our  children      our     cherished     position     of 
equal  citizenship  in  the  United  Kingdom, 
and  in  using  all  means  which  may  be  found 
necessary  to  defeat  the  present  conspiracy 
to  set  up  a     Homo     Rule     Parliament    in 
Ireland. 

And  in  the  event  of  such  a  Parliament 
being  forced  upon  us,  we  further  solemnly 
and  mutually  pledge  ourselves  to  refuse 
to  recognise  its  authority. 

In  sure  confidence  that  God  will  defend  the 
right,    we  hereby   subscribe  our   names. 

And,  further,  we  individually  declare  that 
we  have  not  already  signed "thiB  Covenant. 


VOLUNTEERS- OLD  AND  NEW. 


13 


The  meu.utl„  of  tne  Clubs  were  drillted  and 
supplied  with  arms,  and  they  subsequently 
wore   called   the   "Ulster  Volunteers." 

The  Nationalists  throughout  Ireland  also 
formed  Volunteer  Clubs  and  drilled.  The 
formation  of  these  corps  naturally  recalls  to 
memory  the  Volunteers  of  former  days,  when 
Ulstermen  nocked  to  the  standard  in  a  time 
of  National  danger.  The  first  occasion  on 
which  we  find  the  word  "Volunteers" 
specially  applied  to  military  force,  raised  for 
such  purposes,  was  is  1715,  when  "The  Stuart 
Pretender"  landed  in  Scotland.  The-  next  was 
in  1745,  when  a  second  "Pretender  scare"  took 
place;  then  in  17G0,  when  the  report  was 
circulated  that  "The  French  are  in  the  Bay-" 
It  was  about  this  time  that  the  people  of 
Magherafelt  considered  they  should  do  their 
part  in  making  provision  for  the  protection 
of  their  hearth  and  homes,  and  also  to  assist 
the  Government  in  every  way  possiblo 
when  attacked,  and  with  those,  objects 
Volunteer  Corps  were  formed,  and  the  "First 
Magherafelt  Volunteers"  were  amongst  the 
first  in  Ireland  to  become  association,  which 
took  place  in  June,  1773,  their  uniform  being 
scarlet,  faced  with  black.  The  officers  were: — 
Captain,  A-  Tracy ;  lieutenant,  Richard 
Dawson  ;  ensign,  R.  Montgomery.  The  fact 
that  there  was  a  "First  Company,"  shows  that 
Magherafelt  possessed  at  least  a  second  com- 
pany. That  they  were  skilful  and  able  to  hold 
their  own  in  competition  with  the  other  Corps, 
is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  they  possessed 
two  silver  medals — a  no  mean  achievement — ■ 
both  obtained  in  the  year  1781 — one  for  skill 
with  broadsword,  and  the  other  for  the  best 
target  shot  at  100  yards.  This  latter  modal 
was  won  by  a  Patrick  Fagan.  The  former 
modal  was  oval  shaped  and  contained  tho 
following  engravement : — Obverse  side — Two 
Cavalrv  swords  in  Saltire  over  the  letters 
M.I.V.Y.  (Magherafelt  Independent  Volunteer 
Yeomary).  1781.  for  skill  with  Broadsword. 
Reverse' side— Pro  Rege  et  Patria— below  two 
sprays  of  Shamrock  in  the  field  and  a  harp 
royally  crowned.  The  rim  was  raised,  and 
there  "was  a  ring  suspender.  This  medal, 
is  at  present  in  the  Belfast  Museum,  situated 
in  portion  of  the  Free  Library.'  It  seems  that 
in  1782  the  Volunteers  were  organised  into 
Battalions  and  Brigades,  and  it  is  probable 
that  the  Magherafelt  Companies  formed  part 
of  tho  Loughinshollin  Battalion,  commanded 
by  Colonel  .Staples  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Dawson.  The  Volunteer  Regiments  would  be 
composed  of  from  ten  to  twelve  companies  in 
each  Regiment,  and  the  number  of  men  per 
Company  varied  from  60  to  100-  Generally 
a  Company  was  raised  in  each  Parish 
where  tho  number  of  Protestants  rendered 
such  possible,  and  where  necessary  two  and  in 
some  cases  three  Parishes  combined  to  form  a 
Company-  In  towns  it  was  usual  to  form  one 
or  more  town  Companies  in  addition  to  a 
Parish  Company. 


The  Magherafelt  Volunteers  v^.t  part  in 
the  Volunteer  display  in  Londonderry  on  the 
10th  and  11th  August,  1780,  where  tho 
Volunteers  of  the  whole  County  were  in- 
spected by  Lord  Charlemont ;  they  and  the 
Kilroa  Companies  being  led  in  tho  march  past 
by  Col.  Robert  Stewart,  and  it  is  reported 
that  "promptitude  and  exactness  were  exhi- 
bited to  a  degree  that  reflected  tho  highest 
"horair  both  on  the.  abilities-of  the  officers 
"and  iiirv  expertness  and  attention  of  tho 
"privates.  The  different  battalions  presented 
"arms  as  his  Lordship  passed  along— the 
"officers  saluting  with  much  grace  and 
"propriety."  It  also  appears  that  on  tho  7th 
August,  1780,  the  Castlodawson  and  Vintners, 
Bellaghy  Corps,  numbering  410  men,  were  re- 
viewed by  Col.  Jones  at  Glengorm. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Loughinshollin 
Battalion,  held  on  tho  3rd  May,  1782.  in 
Castlodawson,  Major  Downing — in  the  absence 
of  Col.  Staples,  and  Lieutenant-Col  Dawson— 
occupied  the  chair,  when  the  following 
Resolutions  were  passed-  (They  are  taken 
from  the  Belfast  News-Letter  of"  Friday,  May 
10,  to  Tue?  '.ay,  May  14,  1782.)  Resolved— 
"That  at  this  awful  and  important  hour,  when 
the  fate  of  Ireland,  as  a  Nation,  is  depending, 
it  would  bo  a  dereliction  of  our  rights  longer 
to  delay  a  publication  of  our  sentiments.  \\'e 
are  now  in  full  possession  of  the  several 
opinions  and  demands  of  our  countrymen, 
armed  and  unarmed  of  the-  Volunteers  and  of 
tho  people  of  Ireland.  Wo  therefore,  with 
hearts  beating  high  for  the  honour  of  our 
King  and  tho  good  of  our  country,  do  accede 
to  tho  resolutions  of  the-  delegates  assembled 
at  Dungannon,  on  the  loth  day  of  February 
last,  as  breathing  the  true  spirit  of  loyalty, 
liberty  and  toleration,  and  will  use  every  con- 
stitutional effort  in  support  of  such  measures 
as  may  tend  to  promote  the  undoubted 
liberties  of  this  Kingdom.  Resolved — 
That  tho  interests  of  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land are  inseparable,  and  that  any  attempts 
to  disunite  them  deserve  the  execrations  and 
resentment  of  every  friend  to  both.  Resolved 
— That  as  we  are  willing  to  share  her  fate,  so 
it  is  our  determination  to  be  free.  Resolved — 
That  the  thanks  of  this  Corps  bo  given  to 
those  worthy,  and  independent  members  of 
Parliament  who  strenuously  supported  tho 
rights  and  liberties  of  Ireland,  and  that  we 
are  happy  in  having  this  opportunity  of 
expressing  our  most  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments to  the  Right  Hon-  Thomas  Conolly,  our 
General ;  Col.  Staples  and  Lieut-Col-  Dawson 
for  their  generous  donations,  steady  support, 
and  particular  attention  to  this  battalion 
from  its  first  formation.  Resolved— That  with 
heartfelt  pleasure  we  reflect  that  the 
strictest  harmony  has  ever  subsisted  in  this 
battalion,  and  that  our  sentiments  have,  on 
his  and  every  occasion,  entirely  coincided 
with  those  of  our  worthy  commanders  whoso 
absence  at  this  time  is  owing  to  their  indis- 
pensable    duty    in     Parliament.      Resolved— 


14 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


That  our  Chairman  do  immediately  enclose 
these,  our  resolutions,  to  James  Dawson. 
Esq..  Secretary  to  the  Dungannon  Meeting 
Resolved— That  Col.  Staples  and  Lieut-Col 
Dawson  bo  requested  to  confer  with  the  othei 
delegates  of  the  Ulster  Volunteers  on  all 
Constitutional  measures  and  questions  that 
may  tend  to  the  redress  of  grievances  and 
injured  rights  of  Ireland-  Resolved — That 
our  Chairman  shall  have  these,  our  resolutions 
published  in  the  Duhlin  Evening  Post  and 
Belfast  News-Letter. 

A  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Parish 
of  Magherafelt  was  held  in  Magherafelt  on 
Monday,  the  5th  day  of  May,  1782,  pursuant 
to  publick  notice.  Mr.  Henry  Patterson  ( 
presided,  when  the  following  resolutions  were 
passed  (they  are  taken  from  the  Belfast  News 
Letter  of  May  14,  to  May  17,  1782.) 

Resolved— (1)  That  the  welfare  of  the  people 
ought  to  be  tho  groat  design  of  every  Govern- 
ment. 

(2)  That  when  the  servants  of  the  Crown  hy 
their  corrupt  influence  attempt  to  undermine 
the  rights  of  tho  people,  it  becomes  the  indis- 
pensable duty  of  each  individual  to  use  every 
Constitutional  effort  in  their  defence- 

(3)  That  we  most  cordially  approve  of  and 
accede  to  the  Resolutions  entered  into  at 
Dungannon  by  the  delegates  of  tho  Volunteers 
assembled  on  the  25th  February  last,  and  tho 
solemn  declaration  of  tho  High  Sheriffs, 
Grand  Jurors,  Freeholders  and  inhabitants  of 
the  City  and  County  of  Londonderry,  con- 
vened at  the  last  Assizes,  both  which  Reso- 
lutions and  Solemn  Declaration  merit  and 
shall  receive  our  most  determined  support. 

(4)  That  we  have  with  admiration  beheld 
the  efforts  _  of  those  distinguished  and 
illustrious  citizens  who  formerly  composed 
the  minority  of  the  Irish  Parliament  in  assert- 
ing with  such  uncommon  ability  and 
unwearied  zeal,  the  rights  of  Ireland, 
rejoicing  that  their  able  reasonings,  seconded 
by  the  voice  of  the  people,  have  forced  con- 
viction on  every  mind,  and  brought  both 
Houses  of  Parliament  unanimously  to  speak 
the  sentiments  of  the  people  in  stating  and 
claiming  the  ancient  rights  of  this  Kingdom- 
rights  which  ought  to  be  asserted  at  every 
risk,  and  to  be  torn  from  us  only  with  our 
lives. 

(5)  We  rejoice  that  those  obstructions  which 
so  diverted  the  rays  of  royal  benincenee  have 
been  removed  by  placing  around  the  Throno 
men  of  tho  most  approved  worth,  and  who 
possess  the  entire  confidence  of  tho  people, 
and  we  trust  a  similar  change  of  men  and 
measures  will  take  place  in  this  Kingdom. 
which,  we  are  persuaded,  would  produce  tho 
most  happy  results- 

(6)  That  such  members  as  act  contrary  to 
the  inclinations  and  tho  interests  of  their 
constituents,  or    endeavour  by  absence  when 


important  Constitutional  questions  are  depend 
ing  in  the  House,  to  avoid  both  Ministerial 
Vergorgo  and  popular  oduim,  are  unworthy  of 
future  confidence,  and  that  therefore  on  every 
subsequent  election  we  will  support  with  our 
votes  and  interest  such  candidates  as  are  most 
distinguished  for  integrity  and  patriotic 
conduct. 

(7)  That  the  interests  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  are  indissolubly  united,  and  by  our 
being  admitted  into  an  equal  share  of  tho 
benefits  of  the  British  connection,  tho  bonds  of 
mutual  interest  and  cordial  affection  will  bo 
rendered  firm  and  permanent. 

(8)  That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be 
presented  to  our  worthy  Chairman  for  his 
very  proper  conduct  in  the  chair. 

(9)  That  tho  following  gentlemen :— Major 
Paterson,  Rev.  Mr.  Downing,  Rev-  Mr. 
Chambers,  Rev.  Mr-  Henry,  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson, 
Mr.  Henry  Paterson,  Mr.  Caldwell,  Captain 
Tracy.  Mr.  Robert  Crawford,  Mr.  Samuel 
Crawford,  Mr.  Andrew  Torrens,  Mr-  Thordoro 
Williams,  Mr.  Hugh  Crawford,  Mr.  Thomas 
Pollock,  Mr.  Abraham,  Matthews,  Mr. 
Richard  Dawson  Mr.  Samuel  Strean,  Mr. 
Quinten  Dick,  Mr-  John  Glenholme.  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Brown  (five  to  be  a  quorum)  bo 
appointed  a  Committee  to  convene  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Parish  when  they  shall  think 
it  necessary,  and  to  correspond  with  the  Com- 
mittees of  the  other  parishes,  who  may 
associate  for  similar  purposes. 

The  Volunteer  Yeomary  raised  in  1797,  was 
under  tho  supervision  and  control  of  the  War 
Department,  but  the  information  in  reference 
to  this  foi'ce  is  in  the  possession  of  tho 
Government,  and  is  not  available  unless  by 
special  permission  of  the  Secretary  of  State- 

The  people  of  tho  district  had  to  provide  for 
tho  expense  of  supplying  men  to  the  Militia, 
for  in  1795  the  General  Vestry  which  met 
during  Easter  week,  resolved  that  a  sum  of 
£36  bo  levied  for  six  substitutes  for  tlu> 
Militia— this  being  the  number  appointed  by 
the  Governors  of  the  County  to  b©  raised  by 
the  Parish,  and  on  the  1st  August,  1803,  a 
meeting  was  held  pursuant  to  public  notice, 
"in  order  to  take  the  sense  of  the  Parish 
"whether  they  would  raise  their  quoto  of  men 
"for  tho  'Army  of  Reserve'  by  Parish,  Cess  or 
"ballot.  It  was  determined,  by  a  great 
"majority,  that  it  should  be  raised  by  Cess, 
"and  that  £150  be  applotted  and  levied  off 
"said  Parish  by  tho  acre,  and  that  Richard 
"James  (he  was  tho  first  Clerk  of  the  Union) 
"and  John  Graham — the  present  Church- 
"wardens,  are  empowered  to  applot  and  levy 
"same — Yeomanry  to  be  exempt." 

On  tli3  5th  October  following  tho  npplot- 
rnent  for  tho  raising  of  tho  Cess  for  this 
purpose  was  read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry, 
approved  and  '  finally  ascertained" — viz-, 
£140  18s  lid.     Tho  account  was  as  follows:— 


VOLUNTEERS- OLD  AND  NEW. 


15 


ARMY    OF    RESERVE    ACT,  1803. 

John  Graham,  Magherafelt.         Dr- 
Amount  of  allotment  £146  18  11 

Contra.  Cr. 

To  paid  for  a  band  £0     2     7i 

„  Parish  Lists  and  Advertisements    0     1     4J 
„  Cash  paid  Sergeant  of  Artillery 

for  Recruits  0  10  10 

,,  Paid    Win.       Thompson       for    2 

Recruits  0  10  10 

„  Other  Itecruits-4  Recruits  1     1     8 

,,  For  Cockades — 13  in  number  0     7     0J 

,,  My  Expenses  attending  different 

Meetings  at  Dungannon  0  10     3^ 

,,  Paid  Horse  hire,  etc,  for  a  man 

to  Derry  1     5     3i 

,.  Allowed  the*  Recruits  Marching 

Money  0  14     1 

„  Cash  lost*by  a  Recruit  Rejected    2  17  11* 
,,  8  Guineas  each  to  13  men         100     4     0 
„  Deficiency  returned  by  Collector 
against  H-  Paterson,  Archi- 
bald   Hamilton  and    James 
Patterson,  Esqrs.  12  17     G 

,.  Postage     on     letters    to     Major 

Cameron  about  subsistence     0     8     4 

„  Foes  paid  the  Collector  4  11     0 

,.  Cess  on    Yeomanry— 48    acres — 

not       known     at       time     of 

Applotment  1  14     0 

,,  Balance  in  hands  now  paid  10     2     1 


£146  18  11 


On  the  30th  October,  1807,  a  meeting  of  the 
Vestry  was  held  by  Order  of  the  Lord 
Lieutenant,  when  it  was  resolved  that  tho 
sum  of  120  guineas,  for  the/  purpose  of  raising 
12  men  for  the  Militia,  be  levied,  and  two  men 
wero  appointed  for  each  townland  for  the  pur- 
pose of  Collecting  Voluntary  Subscriptions, 
amounting  to  not  less  than  2s  Gd  per  man 
from  those  who  were  liable  to  serve,  but  had 
no  land,  and  those  who  refused  to  contribute 
wore  to  be  deprived  of  any  benefit  from  the 
Parish  Assessment.  Tho  account  presented 
was  as  follows: — 

MILITIA  CESS. 

Parish  Cess 

Amount  of  Contributions 


£141     G     8J 
30     7     G 


£171  14  2i 

Cash  paid  Bounty  for  12  men       £13G  10  0 

„     Enlisting  12  men  12    0  0 

„       „     Band  0  13  8i 

,.       „     Recruit  who  did  not  Pass  1  14  li 

„       ,.     Applottors'  Fees  0  10  0 

„     Passing  12  men  0  13  0 

,,       ,,     Paper  lor  12  men  0     2  G 

Balance  19  10  10i 


£171  14     2J 


wardens  were,  on  tho  5th  November,  1807. 
empowered  to  give  a  sum  not  exceeding  20s 
t>  any  person  who  would  bring  forward  a 
Militia  Volunteer.  There  is  no  record  in  the 
Vestry  Book  whether  that  amount  had  ever 
been  claimed-  In  1810  £91  was  assessed  for 
raising  8  men  to  serve  on  the  Londonderry 
Militia,  and  as  substitutes  for  such,  8  men 
as  might  be  drawn  at  the  ensuing  ballot,  and 
od  an  aero  was  directed  to  be  applotted  and 
levied  off  the  parkh  for  that  purpose,  also  a 
poll  tax  of  3s  4d.  It  was  further  resolved 
"that  whero  the  head  of  a  family,  not  himself 
"liable  to  bo  drawn,  shall  pay  a  land  tax 
"amounting  to  3s  4d,  his  or  her  eldest  son 
"liable  to  bo  drawn,  shall  bo  exempt  from  the 
"poll  tax  mentioned,  and  as  a  punishment  for 
"those  wiio  refused  to  pay  either  the  land  tax 
"or  poll  tax,  on  or  before  the  8th  May.  1811, 
"and  who  should  happen  to  be  drawn  to  serve, 
"it  was  decided  that  they  were  not  to  recoivo 
"any  part  of  the  money  or  derive  any 
"benefit-" 

INTERESTING   COMMISSIONS. 


Dear  Sir,— In  the  instalments  of  the 
above  History,  giving  the  names  of  the 
residents  of  Magherafelt  Parish  in  17GG,  I 
noticed  the  name  of  my  great-grandfather, 
James  Duncan,  and  it  may  bo  of  interest  to 
state  that  he  was  tho  father  of  John,  and 
tho  grandfather  of  James  and  Robert 
Duncan,  who  were  successively  managers  of 
tho  Northern  Bank  and  tho  Salters'  Estate 
at  Magherafelt-  These  were  Ulstermen  who 
made  good  at  home,  without  going  to  a  now 
country. 

I  notice  in  a  later  instalment  a  reference  to 
the  Yeomanry  Corps  established  by  tho  Act 
42,  George  III.,  and  I  append  copies  of  two 
Commissions  conferred  on  my  maternal  grand- 
father, Robert  Steele,  which  will  bo  of 
interest  to  the  descendants  of  the  men  who 
served  in  these  Corps  upwards  of  100  years 
ago. 

It  will  be  noticed  the  first  Commission  of 
1802  is  to  raise  and  arm  tho  Bellaghy 
Infantry,  and  the  second  is  to  raise  and  arm 
the  Bellaghy  and  Castledawson  Yeomanry. 
The  original  Commissions  are  in  my  posses- 
sion. Both  are  signed  in  ink,  but  I  cannot 
make  out  the  signatures. 

Yours,  etc-, 
JOSEPH  COURTNEY  DUNCAN. 

Portglenone, 
June  17,  1914- 


The  balance  appears  to  have  been  handed  to 
tlie  new  Churchwardens.  And  to  encourago 
tho    raising    of    men  to  servo,  the     Church- 


16 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


BY  THE  LORD  LIEUTENANT  GENERAL 
AND  GENERAL  GOVERNOR  OF 
IRELAND. 

RICHMOND. 


BY  THE  LORD  LIEUTENANT  GENERAL 
AND  GENERAL  GOVERNOR  OF 
IRELAND. 


NORTHUMBERLAND. 


Whereas  an  Act  has  passed  in  the 
Session  of  Parliament,  held  in  the  42d. 
Year  of  His  Majesty's  Reign,  entitled, 
"An  Act  to  enable  His  Majesty  to  accept 
and  continue  the  services  of  certain 
Troops  or  Companies  of  Yeomanry  in 
Ireland-"  _  And  whereas  His  Majesty  has 
been  graciously  pleased  by  His  Warrant 
under  His  Royal  Sign  Manual,  Bearding 
Date  at  His  Court  at  Saint  James's,  on  the 
20th  day  of  September,  17B6,  to  give  to  Us 
full  Power  and  Authority  to  Issue 
Commissions  in  His  Name  to  such  Persons 
as  we  shall  deem  expedient  for  His 
Majesty's  Services,  for  levying  Armed 
Corps  within  this  Kingdom,  for  tho 
Preservation  of  the  Public  Peace,  and  to 
quell  Insurrection  and  resist  Invasion. 
Now  Wo,  deeming  it  expedient  for  tho 
Purposes  aforesaid,  to  raise  an  Armed 
Corps  in  the  County  of  Londonderry,  to  bo 
called  tho  Bellaghy  Infantry,  and  having 
Trust  and  Confidence,  in  tho  Courage  and 
Loyalty  of  Robert  Steele.  Esquire,,  do  by 
Virtue  of  the  said  Authority,  in  Hi's 
Majesty's  Name,  and  in  Conformity  to  the 
above  recited  Act,  by  these  Presents,  con- 
stitute and  appoint  the  said  Robert  Steele, 
Esquire,  to  be  second  Lieutenant  to  that 
Corps,  commanded  by  T.  Spotswood, 
Esquire,  and  called  tho  Belbighy  Infantry 
(but  not  to  take  Rank  in  His  Majesty's 
Army  except  during  the  Time  the  said 
Corps  shall,  in  consequence  of  their 
voluntary  Offer,  be  called  out  into  actual 
Service.)  You  are  therefore  carefully  and 
diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  second 
Lieutenant,  by  exercising  and  well- 
disciplining  both  the  inferior  Officers  and 
Soldiers  of  that  Corps. 

And  we  do  hereby  command  them  to 
obey  you  as  their  second  Lieutenant,  and 
you  aro  to  observe  and  follow  such  Orders 
and  Directions  from  Time  to  Time,  as  you 
shall  receive  from  your  Captain,  or  any 
other  of  your  superior  Officers,  according 
to  the  Rules  and  Discipline  of  War,  in 
pursuance  of  tho  Trust  hereby  reposed  in 
vou.  Given  at  His  Majesty's  Castle  of 
Dublin,  the  22d-  day  of  August,  1802,  in 
tho  forty-seventh  year  of  His  Majesty's 
Reign. 

By  His  Grace's  Command- 
Robert    Steele,    Esquire,     to    bo 
second      Lieutenant      in      tho 
Bellaghy     Corps  of     Infantry. 


WHEREAS  an  Act  was  passed  in  the 
Session  of  Parliament,  hold  in  tho  42d. 
Year  of  tho  Reign  of  His  lato  Majesty 
Georgo  the  III.,  entitled,  "An  Act  to 
onablo  His  Majesty  to  accept  and  continue 
tho  Services  of  certain  Troops  or 
Companies  of  Yeomanry  in  Ireland-"  And 
Whereas  His  Majesty  has  been  graciously 
pleased  by  his  Warrant  under  His  Royal 
Sign  Manual,  bearing  Date  at  His  Court  at 
Carlton  House,  on  the  10th  day  of  Feb- 
ruary. 1820,  to  give  to  Us  full  Power  and 
Authority  to  issue  Commissions  in  His 
Name  to  such  Persons  as  We  shall  deem 
expedient  for  His  Majesty's  Service,  for 
levying  Armed  Corps  within  this  Kingdom, 
for  tlie  Preservation  of  the  Public  Peace, 
and  to  quell  Insurerction  and  resist 
Invasion.  Now  we,  deeming  it  expedient 
for  the  Purposes  aforesaid,  to  raise  an 
armed  Corps  in  the  County  of  London- 
derry, to  bo  called  tho  Bellaghy  and  Castle- 
dawson  Yeomanry,  and  having  Trust  and 
Confidence  in  the  Courage  and  Loyalty  of 
Robert  Steele,  Esquire,  do  by  Virtue  of  tho 
said  Authority,  in  His  Majesty's  Name, 
and  in  Conformity  to  the  above  recited 
Act,  by  these  Presents,  constitute  and 
appoint  the  said  Robert  Steele,  to  be  First 
Lieutenant  to  that  Corps,  commanded  by 
Captain  James  Henry,  and  called  tho 
Bellaghy  and  Castledawson  Yeomanry 
(but  not  to  take  Rank  in  His  Majesty's 
Army  except  during  tho  Time  the  said 
Corps  shall,  in  consequence  of  their 
voluntary  O/fer.  be  called  out  into  actual 
Service.)  You  aro  therefore  carefully  and 
diligently  to  discharge  tho  Duty  of  First 
Lieutenant,  by  exercising  and  well- 
disciplining  both  the  inferior  Officers  and 
Soldiers  of  that  Corps. 

And  we  do  hereby  command  them  to 
obey  you  as  their  First  Lieutenant,  and 
you  aro  to  observe  and  follow  such  Orders 
and  Directions  from  Time  to  Time,  as  you 
shall  receive  from  your  Captain,  or  any 
other  of  your  superior  Officers,  according 
to  the  Rules  and  Discipline  of  War,  in 
pursuance  of  the  Trust  hereby  reposed  in 
you. 

Given  at  His  Majesty's  Castle  of  Dublin, 
the  28th  day  of  March',  in  the  tenth  Year 
of  His  Majesty's  Reign. 

By  His  Grace's  Command- 
Robert     Steele,     Esquire,     to    bo 
First       Lieutenant       in       the 
Bellaghy     and     Castledawson 
Corps  of  Yeomanry- 


HIS  LIONOUIl  JUDGE  TODD,  K.C 
Recorder  of  l-<  ndondcrry. 


THE  LATE  T.  G-  OVEREND,  K.C., 
■•  Recorder  of  Londonderry. 


I1IS  HONOUR  JUDGE  JOHNSTON,  K.C. 

Recorder  of  the  Counties  of  Fermanagh 

aud  Monaghan. 


THE  TERRIER  OF  1752. 


The  following,  culled  from  "The  Terrier,'' 
published  by  the  Suiters'  Company  for  the 
half-year  ended  1st  November,  1752,  may 
prove  interesting,  as  showing  the  condition 
of  the  townlands  owned  by  the  Company  at 
that  period,  the  principal  occupiers,  the  area 
and  rent  payable,  and  tbe  description  of  the 
class  of  bouses  then  in  existence.  It  seems 
that  the  Creaghs  (or  creats)  were  nomads 
who  wandered  about  the  county  with  Hocks 
and  herds,  building  buts  where  tbe  pasture 
was  plentiful,  and  removing  from  place  to 
place  as  necessity  arose.  Thcv  were  governed 
by  a  chief.  The  meaning  of  each  townland 
is  given  and  was  obtained  from  tbe  Ordnance 
Survey  Office,  Phoenix  Park,  Dublin:— 

AGHAGASKIN  (OR  O'GASKIN'S  FIELD.) 

Thomas  Kempton  and  George  Stewart, 
127a.  2r.  Op.;  rent,  £15  12s  Did. 

The  Trustees  of  tbe  Dissenters,  53a.  lr.  Op.; 
rent,  £2  Os  Od. 

James  Bowman  and  James  Semple, 
63a.  lr.  Op;  rent,  £4  13s  2d. 

Widow  O'Neill,  Benjamin  Iledfern,  and 
Abraham  Keightly,  132a.  lr.  Op.  ;  rent, 
£8  3s  8d. 

Edward  Beatty  and  Thomas  Graves,  75a. 
2r.  Op. ;  rent,  £8  Os  8Jd. 

All  low  cabins  in  this  townland.  Great 
part  of  the  land  moss  and  scrub  of  wood  and 
bog. 

AITGHRIM 
(THE  RIDGE  OF  THE  HORSES.) 
James  M'Cleery,  Henry  Fullerton,  Richard 
Lennox  and  Partners,     197a.  3r.  Op.;     rent, 
£18  5s  10id. 

One  small  bleach-yard  and  tolerable  farm- 
house in  this  townland.  The  rest  poor 
cabins.  Most  of  the  land  scrub  of  wood, 
moss  and  bog. 

BELLAGHERTY  (AGHERTY'S  TOWN.) 
John      M'Williams'        Executory       Philip 
O'Donachey  and  Partners,  Phelamy  Donachy 
and  Partners,  232a.  2r.  Op.;  rent,  £23  Os  9d. 

In  this  townland  is  one  tolerable  farm- 
bouse,  possessed  by  M'Williams'  Widow ; 
the  rest  poor  Irish  creats.  Great  part  of 
land  scrub  of  wood,  moss  and  bog. 

BALLYCUMLARGYE  (TOWN  OF  THE 
CROOKED  SLOPE  OR  DECLIVITY.) 

John  M'Geown  and  David  Crosit,  120a. 
3r.  Op;  rent,  £11  14s  5Jcl. 

On  this  townland  is  one  tolerable  farm- 
bouse,  the  rest  cabins.  Only  a  small  part 
moss,  the  rest  arable  and  pasture. 


BALLYDONNELL  (DONNELL'S  TOWN.) 
George      Henderson,    Wm.      Baxter      and 

Partners,   John  Workman,   Bryan   Kelly   and 
Partners,  245a.  3r.  Op.;  rent,  £27  19s  6d. 

In  this  town  are  two  tolerable  farm-houses, 
the  remainder  cabins.  Part  of  this  was  the 
domain  of  Salterstown  Castle — mostly  arable 
and  pasture,  except  some  moss. 

BALLYMULTREA  (O'MULTREA'S  TOWN.) 
Andrew      Bell,      Widow       Tracey,      Bryan 
M'Guckin,  Widow  Taylor  and  Others,  258a.  ; 
rent,  £29  2s  OR 

In  this  town  stands  the  walls  of  Salterstown 
Castle,  which  was  burnt  in  1688,  with  two 
tolerable  farm  houses  and  a  corn  mill ;  groat 
part  shrub  of  wood,  whins  and  some  bog. 

BALLYGILLEN  MORE    (MAGILLIAN'S 

TOWN.) 

William  Ramsay,  lOGa.  3r.  Op.;   rent,  £30. 

One  good  farm  house  and  some  poor  Irish 
creats  in  this  townland.  The  greatest  J  art  of 
it  is  shrub  of  wood,  rocks,  bog  and  souie 
moss. 

BALLYGILLEN-BEG  (MAGILLIAN'S 
TOWN.) 
Philemv  Gorery,  Miles     M'Phillonc,     John 
O'Cahan,    and      Rodger      O'Coshally,    192a. 
3r.  Op.;  rent,  £17  5s  lOd. 

All  poor  creats  in  this  townland;  mostly 
shrub  of  wood,  bog  and  moss. 

BALLYDERMOTT      (DF.UMOT'S      TOWN), 
AND  EDENREACU1  (GREY  BROW  OR 
BRAE.) 
John    Downing,  Esq.,     331a.  3r.  Op.  ;   rent, 
£25. 

On  one  of  these  townlands  there  is  a  good 
house  built  by  Rev.  Simon  Roe,  the  rest,  poor 
cottages,  inhabited  by  poor  Irish. 

BALLYMULDERG  (O'MULDERG'S  TOWN.) 
Patrick  O'Mullan.  Wm.  Johnston,  Charles 
O'Neill,  Bryan  M'Guiggan  and  Partners, 
Patrick  O'Cullian,  Francis  Banderman,  Ralph 
Beattv,  Henry  M'Conwell,  Anthony  Berri- 
man,  377a.  3r.  Op.;  rent,  £35  3s  4id. 

In  this  townland  is  one  good  farm-house 
and  one  other  tolerable  house,  the  rest 
cabins  and  Irish  creats;  very  little  arable 
land,  being  mostly  covered  with  shrub  of 
wood,  rocks,  moss  and  bog. 

BALLYNEILL-MORE   (O'NEILL'S  TOWN.) 

One  good  farm-house  and  very  good  offices, 
built  by  the  late  Mr.  Neire,  when  he  was 
ranger  of  the  Society's  woods;  the  rest  cabins 
and  Irish  creats. 


HISTORY  OF    VAGlTttRAKEI.T. 


BALLYHAVOR  (IVORSTOWN.) 

Robert  Birkby,  99a.  3r.  Op.  ;  moss,  45a.  ; 
rent,  £8  19s  9£d. 

Remainder  of  this  townland  let  in  small 
parcels  to  the  town.  Great  part  of  this  town- 
land  shrub  of  wood  and  bog.  The  moss 
supplies  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Magherafclt  and  some  of  the  country  with 
firing. 

BALLYMOGHAN-MORE   (O'MOGHAN'S 
TOWN.) 

Widow  Gilmer  and  Partners,  Mrs.  War- 
burton,  303a.  2r.  Op.;  rent,  £20  14s  0<1. 

Two  small  farm-Louses  in     tin's     townland,  . 
and  some  poor  cabins;   most  of  the  townland 
shrub  of  wood,  rock,  moss  and  hog. 

BALLYMOGHAN-BEG   (O'MOGHAN'S 

TOWN.) 

Samuel  Thompson  and  Partners,  James 
Campbell,  Thomas  Shannon,  ami  Samuel 
Finloy's  Executors,  244a,  1?\  Op.  : 
£24  19s  2^d. 

One  tolerable  farm-Louse  and  offices,  the 
rest  poor  cabins.    There  is  :3:5a.  2r.  Op.  of  moss. 

BALLYRONAN-MORE  AND  REG 
(O'RONAN'S  TOWN.) 

Executors    of    Rowley      Hill,    Esq.,     Ida. 

Or.  Op.;  rent,  £12  (Is  (Id. 

Priest  O'Cor,  29a.  2r.  Op.;  £2  10s  Od. 

Joseph  Bcatty,  80a.  -iv.  Op.  ;  £10  0s  7i<l. 

Rev.  John  Graves  and  David  Gaussen, 
104a.  Or.  Op.  ;  rent,  £11  Ms  Od. 

Robert  Maxwell,  88a.  Or.  Op.  ;  £11  15s  Od. 

Jahn  Hammond,  44a.  Or.  Op.  ;   £3  15s  Od. 

In  those  townlands  are  five  tolerable  farm- 
houses. There  are  a  good  many  cabins  and 
creats.  Great  part  shrubs  of  wood,  bog, 
rocks  and  stoney  ground. 

BALLYNAGARVE  (TOWN  OF  THE 
ROUGHNESS.) 

Cormack  M'Elhone  and  Partners,  61a. 
Or.  Op.;  rent,  £6  15s  8d. 

James  Burnett,  79a.  2r.  Op.:  £6  15s  Od. 

James  Brown  and  Partners,  G3a.  3r.  Op.  ; 
rent,    £5    17s    Gd. 

Edward  Mulhollaml,  Owen  M'Lnuglilin  and 
Partners,  51a.  Or.  Op.;  £5  18s  9d. 

All  cabins  and  Irish  creats  in  this  townland. 

BALLYMILLIGAN  (O'MULLIGAN'S 

TOWN.) 

One  small  farm-house  in  this  townland,  and 
a  small  bleach-yard,  the  rest  cabins  and  Irish 
creats. 


DRUMRAINEY  (RIDGE  OF  THE  FERNS.) 

Owen  M'Gurk  and  Partners,  53a.  ;  rent, 
£G  6s  101d. 

Thomas  Stanton  and  Partners,  49a.  2r. ; 
rent,  £4  6s  Id. 

Arthur  Forbes  and  Partners,  50a.  2r.  ; 
rent,  £3  12s  9d. 

Two  cabins  and  Irish  creats — 29  acres  of 
moss  reserved. 

DUNARNON  (ARNON'S  DUN  OR  FORT.) 

Wm.  Creighton,  61a.  2r.  ;  rent,  £6  13s  3d. 

George  Patterson  and  Partners,  72a.  ;  rent, 
£7  5s  0d. 

Moss  reserved,  51a.  2r. 

A  small  tanyard  and  three  small  farm- 
houses— very  little  arable  land. 

DUNAMONEY  (FORT  OF  THE  BOG.) 
Wm.  and  John    Lees,  John     Brown,  Wm. 

Fleming,  Robert  Wilson,  213a.  2r.  Op.;  rent, 

£27  18s  10<1. 

In   this   townland    and    part   of   Ballyhavor 

stands  a  corn  mill  and  wind  mill  with  two  good 

farm-houses,  some    cabins    and    Irish  creats. 

The  wind  mill    belongs    to    the    Rev.  Robert 

Bryan  and  the  rent  £5. 

KILLYBOGAN  (WOOD  OF  THE  BOG.) 
Wm.   Porter,  Andw.   Brook,  David     Cullen 

and    Partners^     Win.     and      John    Johnston, 

177a.  3r.;  rent,  £18  10s  4J.d. 
Some  moss  reserved.     Rev.  Robert  Bryans, 

for  the  mills,  rent  £20.    In  this    townland  a 

corn  mill,  some  cabins  and  Irish  creats. 

KILLYNEESE  (AENEAS'S  WOOD.) 
Patrick    Doudle,     John     Adgers'     Widow, 
John  Bunton,  227a.;   rent,  £14  5s  43d.     Bog 
reserved. 

KILLYFADDY  (LONG  WOOD.) 
Mr.  Wm.  Johnston,  371a.;  rent,  £20  8s  Od. 
In  this  townland     there  is  one  good  farm- 
house and  offices,  and  a  few  cabins  and  Irish 
creats. 

LECKA  (HILL  SIDE.) 
Hu.'h  O'Neill  and     Partners,     GGa.;     rent, 

£8  4s  4il. 
There  are  only  three  cabins  in  this  townland. 

The  greatest  part'of  the  land  let  to  the  town. 

Most  shrub  of  wood,  moss  and  bog. 

MULLAGHBOY  (THE  YELLOW  SUMMIT). 

John  Ramsay's  executors— William  Given, 
Mrs.  Waiburton,  127a.  Or.  Op.  ;  rent, 
£19  14s  63d. 

There  are  only  some  cabins  and  Irish 
creats  in  this  townland.  The  greatest  part 
of  the  townland  held  by  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Magherafelt. 


THE  TERRI  ER  OF  17.r,2. 


MOYMUCKLE-MTJRRAY   (MACGIL- 
MURRY'S    PLAIN). 

John  Harris,  38a.  Or.  Op.  ;  rent,  £5  4s  6d  ; 
David  Adams  and  Partners,  99a.  Or  Op.  ; 
rent,  £12  2s  Od;  John  M'Cord,  39a.  3r.  Op.; 
rent,  £5  9s  4d. 

Three  tolerable  farm  houses  in  this  town- 
land,  and  some  cabins.  All  arable  and 
pasture  except  some  moss  and  bog,  about 
12  acres. 

POLEPATRICK   (PATRICK'S     HOLE   OR 
CAVERN). 

Richard  Whiteside,  40a.  Or.  Op.  ;  rent, 
£5  10s  Od. 

The  remainder  of  this  townland  let  to  the 
people   of     Mngherafelt. 

One-  tolerable  farm  house.  All  arable 
pasture. 


ROSHURE  (POINT  OF  THE     YEW). 

Henrv  and  Job  Palmer,  127a.  Or.  Op.; 
rent,  £9. 

Two  small  farm  houses.  All  arable  and 
pasture  except  30  acres  of  moss,  bog,  and 
moor. 

TILLINKISIE  (LINCHY'S  HILL). 

William  and  Ben  Brown,  Mantis  Mulhol- 
land,  James  M 'Naught  and  Partners, 
William  Akein  and  John  Tomb,  Edward 
Whiteside  and  Partners  (Forge  Dam), 
270a.  Or.  Op.;    rent,  £23  Is  lljd. 

All  poor  cabins  and  Irish  creats. 
Very  little  arable  land,  being  mostly  shrub  of 
wood,  bog  and  rocks. 


RECORDS    OF  1824. 


In  the  issue  of  "The  Mid-Ulster  Mail"  of 
22nd  March,  1913,  the  following  account  of 
Magkerafelt  in  1824,  from  Pigot  and  Co.'s 
Hibernian       Provincial  Directory,         was 

published:— 

MAGHERAFELT  IN  1824. 

Magherafelt  is  a  small  neat  market  and 
post  town  in  the  county  of  Deny,  91  miles 
north  by  west  of  Dublin,  by  the  post  road,  2 
miles  from  Castledawson,  4  from  Moneympre, 
5  from  Toome,  7  from  Cookstovn,  and  28  from 
Belfast.  In  the  year  1680  Hugh  Rainey,  Esq., 
left  an  annuity  of  175  pounds  per  annum  for 
the  support  and  education  of  as  many  boys, 
as  the  sum  (after  deducting  the  salary  of  tho 
schoolmaster  and  the  housekeeper)  would 
allow  ;  the  number  is  generally  from  12  to  14  ; 
they  aro  maintained  three  years,  afterwards 
apprenticed,  with  an  extra  suit  of  clothes  and 
fifty  shillings,  which  are  placed  in  the  hands 
of  their  master,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  their 
service,  given  to  them  towards  their  beginning 
business.  Here  is  also  a  Sunday  school  for 
children  of  all  religious  denominations.  Tho 
church  is  a  neatstono  edifice,  with  a  lofty 
spire,  of  which  the  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Vc.sey  is 
the  present  rector.  Here  are  also  a  Presby- 
terian meeting-houso  and  a  Catholic  chapel. 
In  the  centre  of  the  town  stands  the  market- 
house,  possessing  a  good  clock,  and  over  it  is 
a  ballroom.  At  the  lower  end  of  the  town  is 
tho  Sessions'  House,  where  the  sessions  aro 
held  twice  a  year  for  civil  bills  and  criminal 
offences;  adjoining  it  is  the  Linen  Hall-  A 
court  loot  is  also  held  here  every  month  for 
the  recovery  of  debts  under  forty  shillings. 
Tho  proprietors  of  this  town  are  the  Marquis 
of  Londonderry  and  Sir  Robert  Bateson,  who 
hold  it  under  a  lease  from  the  London  Com- 
pany. The  general  market  is  held  on  Thurs- 
day, and  a  good  one  for  linen  on  the  second 
Thursday  in  every  month.  There  aro  fairs 
on  August  25th,  October  29th,  and  December 
29th-    The  population  is  1,100. 

Post  Office— Post  Master,  Mr.  Thomas 
Dickson.  Tho  Dublin  mail  is  despatched  to 
Cookstown  at  twenty  minutes  past  ten  in  tho 
morning,  and  arrives  at  half-past  three  in  the 
afternoon.  The  Londonderry  and  Belfast 
mails  leave  at  three  quarters  past  three  in 
tho  afternoon  and  arrive  at  half-past  seven  in 
the  evening.  A  by-mail  to  Tobermorc  and 
Maghera  at  half-past  seven  in  tho  evening. 
Letters  for  England  go  by  Dublin,  those  for 
Scotland  by  Belfast. 

Gentry  and  Clergy — Ash,  Miss,  Charity 
Street;  Bamber,  George,  Esq.,  Millbrook ; 
Boll,  Humphrey,  Esq.,  Warwick  Lodge ; 
Bryan,  Josh-,  Esq.,  seneschal,  Broad  Street; 
Paterson,  Captain  Thomas;    Paul,  Rov.  Thos.. 


rector  of  Ballinderry ;  Vcsey,  Rev.  Thomas 
A.,  rector,  Glebe  House  ;  Walker  John,  Esq., 
agent  to  tho  Belfast  Northern  Bank,  Charity 
Street;   Wilson,  Rev.  James,  Eahview. 

MERCHANTS,  TRADESMEN,  Etc 

Physicians— Evans,   Robert,   Bread   Street. 
Surgeons— Shannon,   Dr.;    "Wilson,   William, 
Diamond. 

Attorneys— Chambers,  David,  Broad  Street; 

Dickson,    Thomas,    Charity    Street;      Gausscn. 

Charles,  Diamond- 
Surveyors  of  Excise— James,  Richard,  Esq-, 

Broad  Street. 

Coroner — M'Kee.  David  (and  high  coustablo 
of  tho  barony). 

Linen  Inspector — Boyle,  Henderson,  Esq., 
Charity  Street. 

Publicans,  &c—  xUexander,  Isaac,  Pass ; 
Brown,  Win.,  Pass;  Campbell  James.  Charity 
Street;  Cochran,  John,  Charity  Street; 
Cousley,  John  Pass,  Devlin,  John,  parish 
clerk;  Donnelly,  Charles,  Castle  Street; 
Ferguson,  Win.,  Broad  Street;  Hagan,  John, 
Pass;  Holden,  Richard,  Broad  Street;  Hut- 
cthinson,  James,  Charity  Street;  Johnston, 
James,  Diamond;  M'Falls,  Thomas,  Diamond; 
M'Quade,  James.  Charity  Street;  Marks, 
Wm.,  Castlo  Street;  Mason,  Wm.,  Charity 
Street ;  Thompson,  Sarah,  innkeeper  ;  Walsh. 
Michael,  Pass- 

Shopkeepers,  Traders,  &c- — Adams,  Joshua, 
watch  and  clock-maker,  Broad  Street;  Arm- 
strong. John,  wheelwright.  Broad  Street; 
Cochran,  Robert,  grocer,  Charity  Street ; 
Cullin,  Mary,  haberdasher.  Charity  Street ; 
Dawson,  Arthur,  grocer  and  spirit  dealer, 
Castle  Street;  Duncan,  David,  woollen  draper. 
Charity  Street;  Duncan,  John,  grocer,  Broad 
Street ;  Duncan,  Robt-,  grocer,  Broad  Street ; 
Duncan,  W.,  grocer,  Charity  Street ;  Graham, 
David,  woollen  draper  and  haberdasher. 
Charity  Street;  Graham,  John,  haberdasher; 
Hughes,  James,  grocer  and  ironmonger,  Broad 
Street;  Hull,  John,  grocer  and  -baker. 
Diamond;  Johnston,  Michael,  tanner,  Bally- 
heifer;  Johnson,  Samuel,  grocer,  Charity 
Street ;  Kirkpatrick,  John,  carpenter  and 
glazier,  Corn  Lane;  Kirkpatrick,  John 
grocer,  Charity  Street;  Leo,  Hugh,  grocer. 
Pass;  Love,  John,  grocer  and  hardware 
dealer,  Charity  Street;  M'Davitt,  Margaret, 
woollen  draper,  Charity  Street ;  M'Ginnis, 
Charles,  tailor,  Pass;  M'Kee,  Thomas,  wheel- 
wright, Charity  Street;  M'Lernon,  Thomas, 
grocer,  Castledawson  Street ;  Oakman, 
Walter,  baker  and  flour  dealer,  Castle- 
dawson Street;  Richardson,  Henry,  boot 
and      shoemaker,       Pass;       Sands,     Robert, 


RECORDS    OF  1824. 


21 


grocer,  Charity  Street;  Smith,  George, 
wheelwright,  Castlc-Dawson  Street;  Vance, 
James,  watch  and  clock  maker,  Broad  Street ; 
Walker,  John,  linon  buyer,  Charity  Street; 
"Wilson,  Mary  Jane,  haberdasher;  Workman, 
James,  painter  and  glazier,  Broad  Street. 

Coach,  &c— Belfast,  the  Union  Day  Coach, 
from  Thomas  M'Falls,  Diamond,  every  Mon- 
day, Wednesday  and  Friday,  at  seven  in  the 
morning,  and  returns  on  alternate  days,  at 
eight  in  the  evening. 

Goods  may  be  conveyed  to  any  part  of  the 
kingdom,  by  hiring  cars  for  the  purpose. 

*   *   * 

The  Government,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century,  considered  it  so  impor- 
tant to  preserve  tlio  traditions,  etc-,  of  the 
Country,  that  they  decided  to  publish  an 
exhaustive  accou  it  of  each  parish  in  Ireland. 
With  that  object  in  view  they,  in  1829, 
appointed  a  special  staff  to  v?sit  the  different 
polishes  and  obtain  all  available  information 
It;  scorns  the  officials  were  engaged  for  a 
number  of  years  in  that  work,  and  in  1836 
one  of  them,  a  Thomas  Fagan,  visited 
Magherafelt.  When  their  mission  had  been 
completed  the  particulars  in  respect  of  the 
Parish  of  Templemore,  near  Deny,  was,  it 
seems,  ike  only  cue  printed,  owing  to  the  cost 
far  exceeding  that  contemplated.  The 
labours  of  that  highly  paid  staff,  lie  in  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy,  Dublin,  and  can  be 
consulted  by  any  one  interested  in  the  history 
of  their  locality. 

The  following  is  an  abridged  account  taken 
from  Mr.  Fagan's  information : — 

Magherafelt  consists  of  four  principal 
streets,  which  meet  at  the  extremities  of  a 
square  called  "Tho  Diamond,"  in  the 
centre  of  the  town- 

Tho  principal  street  is  Broad  Street, 
which  is  110  yards  long  and  90  feet  wide. 
Charity  Street  (now  Rainoy  Street),  so 
called  from  the  Charity  School  being 
situated  in  it.  It  is  390  yards  long  and  50 
feet  wide.  Meeting  Street  extended  for 
280  yards  from  the  Diamond.  Castle- 
dawson  Street  (now  Church  Street)  extends 
200  yards  from  Broad  Street-  The 
Diamond  is  an  oblong  square  180  yards  by 
45  yards-  The  houses  in  it  are  tolerably 
regular  and  uniform  and  of  a  good 
description.  They  are  all  either  one  or 
two  storey  and  mostly  inhabited  by 
respectable  merchants  and  shopkeepers. 
Tho  houses  in  Broad  Street  are,  with  a 
few  exceptions,  of  an  excellent  descrip- 
tion and  fairly  uniform.  The  street  is 
prettily  terminated  by  the  Church  and 
parsonage.  About  the  latter  there  are 
some  'Plantings'  which  added  greatly  to 
the  appearance  of  tho  town.  Tho  houses 
in  Charity  Street,  as  approached  from  the 


centre  of  the  town,  are  of  a  good  descrip- 
tion and  uniform,  but  towards  the  out- 
skirts they  are  of  an  inferior  quality  and 
chiefly  inhabited  by  the  lower  classes. 
The  Pass  consists  of  two-storied  houses, 
inhabited  by  publicans,  dealers,  etc- 
Castledawson  Street,  which  was  situated 
on  tho  Belfast  Road,  was  almost  inhabited 
by  tradespeople,  the  houses  mostly  one- 
storey  and  thatched.  Meeting  Street 
consisted  of  a  single  row  of  houses,  the 
majority  of  which  were  two-storey  and 
inhabited  mostly  by  tradesmen,'"  and, 
though  substantial,  were  not  very  neat 
or  clean. 

Magherafelt  contained  221  houses,  of 
.which  there  were  49  one-storied,  141  two- 
storied,  and  31  three-storied  houses. 
They  were  mostly  of  a  neat  and  substantial 
description  and  generally  possess  a  good 
yard  and  garden.  Up  to'  about  the  year 
1790  many  of  the  houses  were  built  of 
wood,  and  most  of  them  shingled  (wood 
instead  of  slates),  but  the  only  shingled 
building  remaining  was  tho  Presbyterian 
meeting-house,  which  had  been  built  in 
1736. 

Magherafelt  was  neither  a  commercial 
nor  manufacturing  town,  the  only  manu 
facture  being  that  of  linen  ;  and  its  trade— 
except  the  purchase  of  linen,  pork  and 
grain,  was  carried  on  by  retail-  The  want 
of  water  power  was  a  disadvantage,  thero 
being  nothing  more  than  an  inconsider- 
able rivulet,  which  barely  afforded  water 
power  for  the  brewery,  situated  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  town. 

The  town  is  well  and  regularly  supplied 
with  butchers'  meat  of  good  quality.  Beef 
sold  at  from  3id  to  5d  per  lb-,  and  mutton 
from  4d  to  5d  per  ib.  Mutton  was  be- 
coming scarce  and  sheep  almost  disappear- 
ing from  the  country.  Poultry,  fruit,  milk 
and  butter  were  also  well  supplied  and  at 
reasonable  prices.  Vegetables— except 
leeks  and  onions,  and  occasionally  a  few 
cabbages— were  rarely  offered  for  sale- 
There  was  not  any  market  gardening  nor 
dairying.  The  grazing  for  cattle  let  at 
from  £2  10s  Od  to  £3  5s  Od  for  each  cow 
for  the  Summer's  grass. 

Belfast  was  the  great  Market  for  Pork, 
and  a  considerable  number  of  pigs  were  . 
driven  there  for  sale.  A  good  many  pigs 
and  a  few  young  heifers  were  bought  by 
dealers  for  exportation.  A  little  flax  had 
been  shipped  this  year  (1836)  for  Dundee- 
A  lot  of  oats  and  wheat,  bought  in  tho 
market,  was  transported  by  lighters  from 
Ballyronan  to  Belfast  and  Newry.  There 
was  no  regular  provision  for  the  poor, 
except  tho  usual  collection  on  Sundays,  in 
addition  to  the  interest  of  £100,  which  was 
distributed  annually    to    poor    Protestant 


22 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


roomkeepers.  Tlio  Presbyterians  distri- 
buted their  collections  amongst  their  own 
poor,  the  Roman  Catholics  likewise,  but 
the  Church  of  Ireland  (the  then 
Established  Church)  distributed  equally 
amongst  all. 

The  inhabitants  were  not  very  prone  to 
amusement.  They  had,  however,  a  sub- 
scription pack  of  hounds,  which  met  twice 
weokly  during  the  season,  and  cockfighting 
took  place  on  Easter  Monday-  They  were 
sociable  and  hospitable,  united  in  them- 
selves, and  attentive  to  strangers.  The 
upper  classes,  though  they  could  not  bo 
termed  rich,  were  affluent  and  comfortable, 
and  being  much  alike  as  to  circumstances, 
probably  made  them  so  intimate.  The 
middle  classes  and  those  in  business  were 
comfortable  in  their  circumstances  and 
manner  of  living.  They  were  industrious, 
quiet,  peaceable  and  very  obliging,  and 
there  was  no  town  where  there  was  more 
domestic  peace  or  security,  and  where  the 
laws  or  their  officers  were  more  feared  or 
respected. 

Timber  and  slates  were  procured  from 
Ballyronan.  These  were  brought  by  water 
from  Belfast  to  Ballyronan;  their  carriage 
to  Magherafelt  costing  three-halfpence 
per  cwt.  The  usual  cost  of  pine  timber  at 
BaJlyronan  was  Is  9d  per  cubic  foot,  and 
menial  from  2s  5d  to  2s  6d  per  foot- 
Slates  were  usually  sold  at  Ballyronan: — 
Countess.  £6  15s  Od  per  thousand,  and 
Ladies,  £3  17s  Od  per  thousand.  Bricks  at 
tho  kilns,  which  were  situated  in  Bally- 
scullion  Parish,  cost  10s  per  100,  and  lime, 
when  laid  down,  cost  Is  Id  per  barrel. 
Stones  of  an  excellent  description  were 
abundant  everywhere  about  the  town- 
English  coal  at  Ballyronan  cost  24s  to  28s 
per  ton,  and  Scotch  18s  to  20s  per  ton. 
Turf,  however,  was  chiefly  used  and  cost, 
when  laid  down,  from  £2  15s  Od  to  £3  5s  Od 
per  100  gages.  In  about  eighteen  or 
twenty  years  time  the  town,  and  indeed 
tho  entire  estate,  would  be  badly  off  for 
firing,  as  tho  bogs  will  bo  nearly  all  cut 
about  that  time. 

The  Orangemen  were  very  numerous  and 
well  armed,  and  celebrated'  the  Twelfth  of 
July-  Tho  Freemasons  celebrated  the  24th 
June.  On  Patrick's  Day,  1825,  the  Ribbon- 
men  attempted  to  walk  through  the  town- 
They  were,  ho>vcrer,  warned  not  to  come, 
but  they  persisted,  and  about  twenty  of 
the  tradesmen  fired  at  them,  dispersing 
them  and  killing  one  of  their  number. 

According  to  the  report  of  Mr.  Fagan 
the  machinery  and  manufactories  of  the 
Parish  of  Magherafelt  consisted  of  a  Tanyard, 
a  Brewery,  a  Corn  Mill,  and  a  house  for 
boiling  and  bleaching  yarn. 


The  tanning  of  leather  was  one  of  the  trades 
thought  fit  to  be  introduced  at  tho 
Plantation-  Where  tho  first  Tanyard  was 
established  is  purely  a  matter  of  conjecture, 
as  there  is  no  record  extant — so  far  as  is 
known,  which  contains  that  information-  In 
the  year,  1836,  the  Tanyard  was  situated  on 
tho  premises  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Frank 
Harbison,  Ballyheifer  where  at  one  period  a 
very  extensive  and  lucrative  business  was 
carried  on-  There  was  also  a  Tanyard 
situated  in  the  townland  of  Dunamon.  a  littlo 
below  tho  house  now  occupied  bv  Mr.  James 
Badger,  jun-,  in  tho  year  1752,  but  the  trade 
in  both  places  has  ceased  for  a  considerable 
period. 

Tho  Brewery.— There  is  no  satisfactory  evi- 
dence available,  as  to  when  the  Brewing  of 
Malt,  etc.,  first  took  plaeo  in  Magherafelt. 
In  1752  the  town  possessed  botli  a  Malt  House 
and  a  Malt  Kiln,  but  it  is  not  known  where 
they  were  situated.  Tho  Brewery,  at  a  later 
date,  was  situated  in  Union  Road,  at  the 
premises  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Matthew 
Evans.  It  was  established  in  1825,  its 
machinery  being  propelled  by  a  breast  water 
wheel  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and  two  feet 
three  inches  broad-  One  copper  contained 
forty,  and  the  other  twenty-five  barrels,  and 
the  Mash  Kieve  v  as  eight  feet  in  diameter 
and  four  feet  deep  It  is  said  that  there  was 
an  underground  passage  from  Rose  Lodge  to 
where  the  Brewery  was  situated,  and  also  that 
Old  Dick  Donnelly,  who  resided  in  Church 
Street,  constructed  an  underground  passage 
from  the  Brewery  to  the  garden  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road,  where,  it  is  alleged, 
distilling  took  place  so  that  it  would  escape 
the  notice  of  the  Gauger.  The  object  suc- 
ceeded for  a  time,  but  eventually  Mr.  Bryans 
(who  owned  the  brewery),  was  found  out, 
prosecuted  by  the  Government  and  heavily 
fined.  Subsequently  it  gave  place  to  the 
coach  factory.  The  old  brewery  chimney  is 
still  in  existence. 

The  corn  mill  was  situated  in  the  town- 
land  of  Polepatrick,  and  belonged  to  tho 
Cassidy  family.  It  is  at  present  rented  by 
Messrs.  Cudden,  of  Killynease. 

The  house  for  boiling  yarn  was  situated  in 
Kiliyfaddy  on  Messrs.  Walker's  premises,  but 
it  has  not  been  used  for  a  considerable 
number  of  years.  There  was  another 
boiling  house  erected  at  Leckagh,  and 
belonged  to  tho  late  Mr.  James  Harbison. 
It  also  has  shared  the  fate  of    Mr-  Walker's. 

In  1836  the  people  of  the  parish  were 
chiefly  of  English  or  Scotch  descent  (chiefly 
Scotch),  and  tho  principal  settlement  took 
place  after  the  Battle  of  the  Boyne  and  Siogo 
of  Derry.  Amongst  those,  it  seems,  who 
came  over  with  King  William's  army  were 
representatives  of  tho  fami)y  of  Ash,  some  of 
whom  held  high  commands  in  his  army- 


RECORDS  OF  1824. 


The  Johnstons  who  also  Barred  in  the  same 
army,  settled  in  the  parish  about  the 
year  1700,  and  the  first  house  they  erected 
was  standing  in  Ballymoghan  in  1836. 

In  Mr.  Fagan's  record  the  following  names 
predominate : — 

In  Aghagaskin  the  names  of  Kcightley, 
Bowman,  Redfern,  and  Scilly.  In  'Parana- 
dace  those  of  Kane  and  Love.  In  Bally- 
nockor,  Garvan,  Reynolds,  Scilly  and  Bradley. 
In  Tullylinksay,  those  of  Stewart,  Nodwell, 
Brown  and  M'Night.  In  Annaghmore, 
Pickeram,  Kirkwood,  Love,  Hawthorn,  Evans, 
Bell,  Dawson  and  Nodwell.  In  Killyneese. 
Bell,  Bradley,  Loes.  York,  Foster,  Love  and 
Kelly.  In  Ballyheifer,  Bradley,  Donnelly,. 
Halferty,  Connor  and  Keenan.  In  Killyfaddy, 
Duncan,  Stewart,  Lees,  M'Atoer.  In  Bally- 
moghan, Steele,  Brcwn  Gilmour,  Shannon, 
Quigley,  Badger,  M'Master.  In  Cooishinney, 
Burrows,  Wiley,  Dornan,  Duncan.  Ferris  and 
Farrel  In  Dunamoney,  Brown.  In  Megargy, 
Duncan,  Noghor  and  Can-.  In  Dunarnon, 
Bradley  and  Donnelly-  In  Muliaghhoy, 
Iiidsay,  Wilson  Redfern  and  Kielt-  In 
Shanemullagh,  Hillman,  Morrow,  Dawson  and 
Kane. 

Tho  Castle,  which  was  described  in  the 
Survey  of  1618  as  being  then  in  course  of 
erection,  was  destroyed  dining  tho  Rebellion 
of  1641.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1677  by  Gabriel 
Whistler— the  then  lessee  of  the  Salters' 
Estate.  It  was  again  destroyed  at  the  time 
of  the  Seige  of  Derry  by  portion  of  James* 
army.  In  the  lease  of  1699  the  said  Gabriel 
Whistler  agreed  "to  repair  and,  if  need  be, 
"now  build  the  Castle  or  Fort  in  Maghera- 
"felt,"  and  in  the  Journal  of  Col.  Thomas 
Ash,  there  appears  an  entiy  in  tho  year  1703 
of  sand,  lime,  etc.,  having  been  drawn  by  him 
for  ita  repair.  It  seems  tho  Castle  was 
situated  in  tho  Diamond,  for  in  lowering  it  in 
1799,  1811  and  1815  large  portions  of  tho 
Cellar  Walls  of  an  Ancient  Castle  were  dug 
up.  The  site  is  now  partly  occupied  by  the 
Diamond,  and  partly  by  the  range  of  houses 
situated  from  what  is  commonly  known  as 
"Hull's  Corner,"  to  Mr.  Felix  Ferran's 
dwelling-house,  and  Mr.  Ferran,  in  making 
improvements  rome  short  time  ago,  came 
upon  a  wall  five  feet  broad,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  be  portion  of  tho  walls  of  tho  Old 
Castle- 

From  the  "Terrior"  (rental)  of  1845,  issued 
by  tho  Salters'  Company,  it  appears  there 
were  twelve  quarries  situated  on  the  Estate, 
and  in  Ballymoghan  and  Goi-tagilly  there 
wore  two  lime  kilns  working.  The  one  in 
Ballymoghan  was  let  to  James  Steele  at  £50, 
and  the  one  in  Gortagilly  to  a  man 
named  Steele  at  £80,  but  subsequently,  on 
Robert  M'Kee  acquiring  it,  the  rent  v.  as 
reduced  to  £30-  It  is  also  stated  in  the 
Terrior  that  the  Earl  of  Bristol  (who  was  also 


Bishop  of  Deny)  was    the    first    orginator  of 
limo  binning  in  tin-  County. 

The  following  information  was  also  obtained 
in  1836  by  Mr.  Fagan,  from  persons  in  each  of 
the  townlands  named  : — 

With  the  exception  of  tho  Old  Church  in 
Magherafelt,  the  Parish  could  not  lay  claim 
to  any  other  Old  Ecclesiastical  Buildings.  It 
seems,  however,  that  there  were  two  old 
burial  grounds  unconnected  with  any  place  of 
Worship-  One  was  situated  in  the  townland 
of  Ballymoghan-More— called  Killowcn— from 
which  the  hill,  known  as  Killa-owen  Hill, 
derives  its  name.  The  other  was  situated  in 
Annaghmore,  called  "Tho  burial  garden." 
The  one  at  Killowen  was  said  to  be  one  of  the 
oldest  Irish  burying-grcunds,  and  registered 
in  Rome.  About  the  year  1736,  a  limestone 
quarry  was  opened  near  it,  and  continued  to 
bo  worked  until  1770— when  the  base  of  the 
burial-ground  was  reached,  it  was  found  that 
the  limestone  extended  under  it-  In  work- 
ing the  quarry  from  that  period  to  1815,  and 
when  overturning  the  earth  at  tho  top  of  tho 
limestone,  large  quantities  of  human  bones, 
coffin  boards,  lings,  clasps  and  nails  were 
found-  Many  of  the  bone;  were  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation,  and  .some  of  the  legs, 
thighs  and  jaw  bones  were  of  more  than 
ordinary  size.  One.  arm  bono,  it  is  said, 
exceeded  in  length  and  strength  any  ever  seen 
before  hy  the  persons  who  found  them.  One 
of  tho  skulls  foujd  fitted  over  the  largest  head 
in  tho  neighbourhood,  and  some  of  the  jaw 
bones  fitted  over  the  chin  of  persons  visiting 
the  place-  The  bones  were  all  re-buried  in  the 
quarry  pit,  and  the  graveyard  is  now  quite 
obliterated.  On  tho  north  extremity  there 
was  an  old  spring  well  which  was  very  deep 
and  on  tho  north-west  side  was  Killa-Owen 
Hill. 

The  Annaghmore  burial-garden  was  totally 
demolished,  and  is  now  under  tillage. 

The  remains  of  an  old  castle  in  Annaghmore 
was  dug  up  about  the  year  1825,  and  the  site 
cultivated.  It  was  situated  in  the  holding  of 
the  Stewarts.  There  was  no  tradition  of 
who  its  founder  was,  or  who  the  later  inhabit- 
ants were.  Notwithstanding  this  there  is  a 
story  that  about  the  year  1614  it  was  in- 
habited by  a  savage  tribe  of  people  called 
Gibseys  or  Giboies  who  waylaid  the  neigh- 
bouring people,  carrying  them  to  the  oastly 
and  murdering  them  there,  and  that  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire  by  the  British  Army.  No 
corroboration  of  this  story  could  be  obtained, 
but  it  is  probable  that  the  castle  was 
besieged  and  burnt  to  tho  ground  during  tho 
Rebellion-  A  number  of  human  bones  were 
found  when  the  foundations  wore  being 
removed.  The  remains  of  an  old  paved  road, 
which,  it  seems,  had  been  the  main  leading 
road  from  Castledawson,  Desertmartin, 
Magherafelt,     and     Moneymore     to      Dublin, 


2i 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAPELT. 


were  found  in  the  townlands  cf  Mullagliboy. 
Dunarnon.  and  Megargy,  and  it  appears  that 
in  making  the  road  from  Dosertmartin  to 
Moneymore  in  1812,  a  large  quantity  of 
human  bones  were  found  beneath  the  surface 
in  that  part  of  Megargy  called  the  Bleach 
Green  Fields-  Those  fields  are  at  present  in 
possession  of    Mr-    Andrew     Ditty,  Megargy. 

In  the  townland  of  Mullagliboy  a.  stone 
with  a  rude  and  indistinct  cross  was  found  in 
a  fence.  Although  it  gave  the  impression  of 
an  accidental  formation  it  was  preserved  and 
venerated. 

In  the  same  townland,  on  the  holding  of 
John  Redfern,  stood  a  stone  resembling  a 
cress  which  had  been  found  about  1805  r.t  a 
large  hawthorn  bush  where,  it  was  asserted,  - 
that  Roman  Catholic  worship  had  hec'1  per- 
formed at  some  remote  period. 

In  Ballyhcifcr,  about  the  year  1815,  a  line 
of  an  old  paired  road  was  found  about  two 
feet  under  the  surface  of  the  bog  in  the  hold- 
ing of  Mr.  Frank  Harbison.  The  road  was 
paved  with  large  and  small  stones  quite  level 
on  top,  and  the  breadth  of  the  road  averaged 
8  feet.  About  210  yards  of  the  road  had  been 
raised  up-  (Information  from  John  Halfertv 
and  Robert   Flanagan  in  183G). 

In  the  holding  in  Tullylinksay.  at  present 
ocupied  by  Henry  Stewart,  stood  the  ruins  of 
an  old  paper  mill.  Prior  to  1836  it  had  been 
occupied  by  a  Thomas  Wallace,  but  about  the 
year  177G  it  ceased  to  manufacture  pajcr  in 
consequence  of  the  supply  of  water  being 
insufficient. 

In  the  same  townland  stood  the  ruins  of  an 
iron  foundry-  There  was  no  account  of 
when  the  foundry  ceased  to  work",  but  about 
the  year  1746  a  large  hammer  was  raised  out 
of  the  ruins  and  was  drawn  by  a  number  of 
ment  to  the  Old  Iron  Foundry,  which  stood 
west  of  Castledawson,  where  Mr-  Henderson's 
Bleach  Green  stood-  It  also  appears  that  a 
number  of  bars  of  Iron  were  found  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Foundry  that  made 
good  shoes  for  horses. 

In  the  holding  of  Patrick  Drummond,  of 
Annaghmore,  the  remains  of  an  ancient  bury- 
ing-ground  called  the  "Burial  Garden,"  were 
found,  from  which  a  large  quantity  of  human 
bones  of  every  description  had  been  raised- 
The  sito  was  now  under  tillage. 

Cornelius  O'Neill,  of  Aghagaskin  (in  whose 
farm  John  O'Neill  is  the  present  occupier), 
in  reclaiming  the  remains  of  a  bog  in  his 
holding  in  1827  found  beneath  the  surface  a 
a  small  boat  constructed  out  of  a  solid  piece 
of  oak  8  feet  by  3  feet  and  2  feet  deep.  It 
was  greatly  decayed,  and  was  afterwards  used 
as  a  pig's  trough.  In  the  same  bog  some  time 
provious  a    cask  of   tea    and  a    crock  of    old 


butter  were  found.  A  brass  battle  axe.  was 
also  found  in  the  same  bog,  which  was  sold  to 
a  rag  merchant. 

In  different  parts  of  the  district  instru- 
ments and  coins  of  every  description  wore 
found.  For  instance,  a  battle  axe  was  found 
in  Coolshinney  and  one  in  Ballymoghan. 
In  1832,  in  Killyfaddy,  a  farmer  in  reclaiming 
his  land  found,  one  foot  beneath  the  surface, 
a  brass  spur,  bit  and  buckles,  a  set  of  horse's 
shoes  different  in  shape  from  modern  ones. 
Two  silver  coins  were  found  in  Megargy  about 
the  size  of  a  sixpence.  One  had  a  King's  head 
in  a  circle,  full  faced  and  crowned  with  a 
Crown  fteurie—  with  the  inscription:— 
H.DAY. R.  Angl.  D.NSHZB.  Reverse— the 
crop  and  three-  pillets  in  each  quarter,  and 
round  them  CIVITAS,  LONDON.  The  other 
coin  bore  the  same  King's  head.  Reverse — 
the  crop  and  three  pollets — but  the  in- 
scription on  both  sides  was  defaced.  From 
the  inscription  it  would  appear  that  one  of  the 
coins  belonged  to  tho  reign  of  Edward  the 
First. 

In  1820  a  boat  formed  of  a  solid  piece  of  oak 
was  found  in  Coolshinney.  It  was  only  six 
feet  long,  and  when  found  contained  about 
a  bucketful  of  decayed  hazel  nuts-  Two  small 
oars  were  also  found  with  it- 

There  were  twenty-six  Forts  on  the  Salters' 
Estate  in  1836.  these  being  situated  in  the 
townlands  of  Aghagaskin,  Bellaghertv.  Bally- 
mulderg-More,  Bal!vncill-Beg  and  More. 
Ballygillen-Beg  and  More,  BallyrifF,  Bally- 
rcnan-Beg  and  More,  Ballyniilligan,  Drumi- 
naid,  Drumenagh,  Killyneese,  Killyfaddy, 
Lisnamorrow.  Magliadonc,  Roshure,  Tamua- 
daee,  Tamnadoey,  Ballynenagh,  Mawillian, 
and  Ballindrum.  The  following  interesting 
particulars  relate  to  a  few  of  them- 

There  was  one  in  the  holding  of  Mrs-  Rodgers 
in  Killyneese,  approaching  an  oblong  shape, 
size  43  yards  and  36  yards-  It  was  surrounded 
by  a  moat  and  two  parapets  at  some  former 
period-  It  has  been  demolished.  The  inside 
parapet  had  undeigone  some  alterations,  but 
as  it  stood  it  averaged  15  feet  in  height  above 
the  bottom  of  the  moat.  The  area  occupied 
by  tho  Foit  is  now  under  tillage.  It  is  said 
that  the  north  side  of  the  Parapet  had  been 
explored  about  1796  in  search  of  treasure  that 
had  been  dreamt  of  as  being  there  at  some 
previous  time,  by  some  of  the  inhabitants. 
In  exploring  the  spot  they  found  a  cask  of  ojd 
butter,  a  pot,  crook  and  pot-hooks  about  five 
feet  beneath  the  surface.  All  the  articles 
found  were  subsequently  converted  into 
different  uses.  The  pit  out  of  which  the  pot 
had  been  taken  was  still  visible  in  1836- 
On  the  north  side  there  was  a  large  stono 
which  was  supposed  to  cover  the  Treasure- 
After  repeated  dreams  the  stone  was  tumbled 
into  the  Moat,  and  beneath  it  were  found 
seven  of  the  largest  frogs  ever  known  to  have 
been  seen  in  the  North  of  Ireland- 


a 


, .   .      ■  ~ 


Ml{.  JOHN    HA 


TI1K   l.ATI.  :«ll!.  JOHN   CJLOVKR,  Solicitor 


MR.   JAMES  BROWN,   Solicitor.  '11110  LATE  MR,  ROBERT  M'GUOKIN, 

Solicitor. 


— . 


WM 


L  ..__  . 


MR.  VINCENT  M'GUCKIN, 

Solicitor. 


MR-  J.  I.  DONACHY-.  It. A., 

Solicitor,  and  County  Court  Itegista 


MR.  L.  R.  HASTINGS,  Solicitor. 


MR  JAMES  JOHNSTON,  Solicitor 


RECORDS  OF  1824. 


In  the  holding  in  Aghagaskin,  at  present 
occupied  by  Jaruej  Bowman,  there  stood  a 
Fort)  which  had  been  surrounded  by  a  moat 
and  two  parapets-  The  Fort  was  under 
grazing  and  stood  on  an  eminence,  command- 
ing a  delightful  view  of  a  largo  portion  of 
Deny  and  Antrim.  There  was  a  portion  of 
tho  inside  parapet  removed  at  some  former 
period,  and  beneath  its  surface  were  found 
part  of  an  iron  gate,  Mechanics  Implements, 
gun  locks,  etc-  The  Moat  was  afterwards  dug 
out,  and  several  pieces  of  iron  bars,  corroded 
by  rust,  were  found.  On  the  north  east  side 
an  oak-shaped  grave  was  found.  It  seems  it 
was  enclosed  at  the  sides,  and  ends  by  flat 
stones  sunk  in  the  ground,  and  the  bottom 
paved  with  small  stones.  It  was  covered  by 
an  oak  plank  of  nearly  the  same  shape  and 
dimensions  as  the  grave,  and  at  the  head  of 
the  grave  stood  another  oak  plank  two  feet 
long,  two  foot  broad,  and  six  iuches  thick; 
representing  a  modern  headstone.  The  grave 
was  about  five  feet  long  by  two  feet  wide,  and 
ten  inches  deep.  In  the  interior  was  found 
the  skeleton,  seemingly  of  a  boy— the  collar 
bone,  ribs  and  other  bones  being  reduced  to 
crumbles.  The  grave  was  undisturbed,  but 
absorbed  in  about  six  feet  of  water.  The 
planks  were  taken  away  and  made  use  of.  It 
was  stated  that  the  occupier,  prior  to  Felix 
Koenan,  attempted  to  demolish  the  fort,  and 
while  in  the  act  of  doing  so  was  deprived,  to 
some  extent,  of  his  senses,  and  remained  so 
during  tho  remainder  of  his  life ;  bis  Cattle 
and  Chattels,  it  was  alleged,  also  wasted  away. 
The  occupier  of  the  Farm  in  1833  (Felix 
Keenan)  used  one  of  the  oak  planks—found  at 
■tho  grave— in  a  Manger,  and  one  of  his  best 
horses  died-  He  also  attempted  to  demolish 
the  Fort,  but  tho  succeeding  day  two  of  his 
Cattle  ran  wild  through  the  country.  They 
were  with  great  difficulty  secured  and  kept 
in  the  stable  for    several  days-    Death    of  his 


Cattle  took  place,  and  continued  unabated  up 
to  1833-  (Information  from  James  Semple. 
Felix  Keenan,  and  others,  in  1836.) 

In  the  holding  of  John  Evans,  Annaghmore, 
stood  an  ancient  Haw-bush,  locally  oalled  tho 
"Gentle  Bush."  It  was  said  that  it  had 
often  been  seen  illuminated  at  night,  and  tho 
humming  of  some  invisible  agents  heard.  A 
Wir,  Ekin,  who  oied  some  time  before  1836, 
cut  two  branches  off  tho  "Bush,"  and  within 
ten  days  lost  two  valuable  horses,  and  ho 
attributed  his  loss  to  his  action.  The  site  on 
which  tha  Bush  stood  was  an  old  Burial- 
ground,  and  round  the  roots  of  tho  Bush 
was  occupied  by  graves  of  still-born  and 
unbaptised  children-  About  the  year  1780 
two  Querin  stones  were  found  at  the  roots  of 
tho  tree- 
In  Tamnadace,  in  the  farm  at  present  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Wm.  Garvin,  stood  an  oval-shaped 
Fort.  64  feet  by  56  feet-  The  parapets  were 
composed  of  clay  and  stones.  The  Fort  in 
1836  was  under  grazing,  and  stood  on  an 
eminence  commanding  a  delightful"  view  of 
Cast'ledawson.  in  labouring  the  Fort  about 
1820,  a  number  of  graves,  human  bones,  and 
pieces  of  coffins  were  discovered  beneath  the 
surface-  The  spot  where  they  were  found  was, 
it  was  said  in  1836,  to  be  very  gentle  and 
often  seen  illuminated  at  night. 

In  the  townland  of  Mullaghboy,  in  the  hold- 
ing of  Mr.  John  Walsh,  stood  an  oval-shaped 
Fort,  70  feet  by  50  feet,  composed  of  clay  and 
stones,  and  enclosed  by  a  moat  averaging  15 
feet  wide.  At  the  west  side  stood  an  old 
spring  well;  while  at  the  west  of  the  Fort 
stood  an  eminence,  locally  called  the  "Battle 
Hill,"  on  which  it  was  said  that  Cannon  were 
placed  to  demolish  the  ancient  Castle  of 
Magherafelt. 


THE  VALUAT  ION  OF  183?. 


The  following    were  the    occupiers  of    the 

several    premises  in  Magheraielt  in    1837 : — 

CHARITY  STREET  (NOW  RAINEY  ST.) 
Rent  Yearly- 
Charity  School  Garden  £0  4  0 
Same  School  2  15  0 
Robert  Sands  Tenement  8  5  0 
Pork  Market  25  0  0 
Ben  Donaldson  Tenement  1  14  0 
Martha  Kane  „  0  10  4 
Dr.  Shannon  „  0  18  0  . 
Matthew  Bowman  ,-  10  0 
Arthur  M' Williams  ,.  0  13  6 
Patrick  M'Crystal  „  10  0 
James  Hughes  ,.  12  0 
John  Richey  „  1  17  0 
John  Caldwell  ,.  3  11  0 
Robert  Sands  „  3  2  0 
Jolm  Walker  „  4  19  0 
Louis  Walsh  „  2  10  0 
Patrick  M'Crystal  ,.  1  14  6 
Mrs-  M'Davitt  „  3  7  0 
Jane  Ash's  heirs  »  2  7  0 
Mrs.  Thompson  „  1  15  0 
John  and  Hugh  Wilson  ,.  4  9  0 
John  Walker  Meadow 
Phelimy  Kane  and 

John  Walker  Tenement  2  13     0 

William   M'Collum  „  12     0 
Hugli  M'Closkey  and 

M'Menemy  ,,  3  18     0 

Anthony  Mageo  „  2  14     0 

James  Crooks  ,•  1  17     0 

Wm.  Hastings  ,,  17     0 

John  MaKraw  „  13     0 

Heire  of  Peacock  „  2  10    0 

Robert  Simpson  ,.  0  15     0 

Wm.  Browne  ,,  0  15     0 

Samuel  Graham's  heirs       ■■  18     6 

Patrick  M'Kenna  ,.  0  19     4 

John  Morgan  „  2    9    0 

Ja.mes  M'Dowell  „  1  11     0 

John  Walsh  „  2     6     0 

Robert  Fobes  .,  2    9    0 

Andrew  AUen  ,.  2     9    0 

Mrs-  Thompson  ..  2  19    0 

David  Graham  „  1  18    0 

MONEYMORE  STREET  (NOW  QUEEN  ST.) 

Widow  Hagan  Tenement  £3     8    0 

John  M'Williams  -  2    4    0 

Thomas  York  „  1  10    0 

James  M'Kee  ,.  1     9     0 

James  Leckv  «  J     8     ° 

Wm.  Brown  „  2  12    0 

John  Coustley  „  2  1 0     0 

Henry  Richardson  ,•  3  15    0 

Wm.  "Browne  »  l     i    ? 

Wm.  M'Collum      Grain  Market  35     0    0 

Jamee  Harbison  Tenement  2  16    0 

Michael  Smith  „  0  18     4 


Charles  M'Girmi 
John  Risk 
Felix   Kennedy 
John  Moran 
John  Hull 


0  8  6 
2  5  0 

1  9  4 

2  3  0 
1  4  0 


THE  DIAMOND  (SOUTH  SIDE) 


John  Hull 


Tenement  £3     0    0 


Thomas  M'Fall  „                     3  13     0 

Wm.  M'Collum  ,.                    2    0    0 

Wm.  Gaussen  „                   12  17     0 

George  M'Arthur  „                     3     9     0 
Darby  M'Afee  and 

Johnston  „                     4     0    0 

Henry  Waterhouse  ,.                     2    0    0 

Rov.  Samuel  Twigg  „                    4     2    0 

Jolm  Johnston  Garden 

NORTH  SIDE. 

Ulster  Bank  „                     3  15    0 

John  Graham  „                     2  18     0 

George  Brown  >•                    2     7     0 

Wm.  Hughes  ..                    2  12    0 

John  Duncan  „                    2     8     6 

John  Johnston  „                    1  16     0 
John  Graham  and 

G.  Brown  Garden 
New  Linen  Market 
Ulster  Bank             Office  Houses 
John  Graham 

MEETING  HOUSE  ST-  (NORTH  SIDE) 

Wm.  Hughes  Garden 
Ulster  Bank 

Presbyterian  Meeting  House- 
Thomas  M'Fall  Meadow           £2    8    0 
Jolm  Graham  Garden 

SOUTH  SIDE. 

Charles  M'Kenna  Tenement             3     6     0 

Michael  Walsh  ,.                    3  14    0 

Patrick  M'Ateer  „                   2  15    0 

John  Graham  ,,                     4     6     0 

John  Kielt  „                    19    0 

Wm.  Gaussen  Garden             0  15    0 
Thomas  M'Fall 

John  Graham  Garden 

George  Brown  ,. 

Wm-  Hughes  » 

Jolm  Duncan  „ 

John  Graham  ,, 

Thomas  M'Fall  ,. 

Jolm  Johnston  ,, 

Patrick  M'Ateer  „ 

Wm.  Gaussen  Garden             0  10     0 

BROAD  STREET  (EAST  SIDE) 

Thomas  M'Fall  Tenement          £400 

Wilson  Wawhinney  „                   3    2    0 

James  Shaw  ,.                     10    0 

-James  Hughes  ,,                    3  17     6 


THE  VALUATION  OF  1837. 


John  Duncan 
Joshua  AdamB 
John    Daly    and 
Geo.  Gassidy 
John  Walker 
Dr-  Shannon 
Northern  Bank 
Wm.  Ferguson 
John  Lawrence 
John  Walsh 
Dr.  Evans 


3  19     G 
2     6    0 

and  Garden  5  11     0 

Tenement  4  19     0 

0 
0 
0 
(i 
0 
0 


John  Lawrence 
John  Walsh 


1     0    0 


6  11 
4  19 

2  4 

3  9 
3  12 
3  10 
1  11 
3  11 


CASTLEDAWSON  ST-  (NOW  CHURCH  ST.) 

(SOUTH  SIDE.) 

Joe  and  Alex.  Devlin  Tenement  £4  13  0 

Widow  Miller                        „                     3  18  0 

Robert  Foster                      ,.                    19  6. 

Widow  Stanley                      „                    0  18  4 

Andrew  Allen                        „                     1  10  0 
Now  School  House    Garden 

Miller  and  Badger        Tenement             0  15  0 
School  Houso 

NORTH  SIDE. 
Linen  Hall  and  Bridewell 

John  Greer                     Tenement  2     5     0 

George  Cassidy                     „  4     0    0 

Richard  Donnelly                 .,  4  18     0 

John  M'Williams                 „  2  10     0 
Wesleyan  Chapel  and  Dwelling  House  110 

Andrew  Allen                     Garden  0  10     0 

John  Greer                            „  110 

UNION  ROAD  (NORTH  SIDE.) 
Mr.  Bryars,  New  Buildings  (now  Rose  Lodge) 
Female  School 
Dr.  Evans                   Garden 


There  wvrc  no  buildings  in  the  South  side  of 
Union  Road,  except  the  Office  Houses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Walsh. 

CHURCH  WELL  STREET. 

John  Thompson 

Bryars  Tenement  £0  19     0 

HOUSES  AT  CHARITY  BRIDGE. 

Arthur  Donnelly  1  14  0 

James  M'llwec  1   14  0 

Michael  Hynds  10  0 

ROAD  FROM  RAINEY  ST.  TO  UNION  RD. 

NOW  GARDEN  ST.  (WEST  SIDE.) 
Garden  John  and  Hugh  Wilson- 
„       Jane  Ash's  heirs. 
,,       John  Walker- 
James  Hughes. 
,,       Mrs-  Thompson. 
,,       John  Walker 
,,       James  Hughes. 
.John  Cochrane.  . 

EAST  SIDE. 

Garden  John  Caldwell. 
Mis-  M'Davitt. 
,,       Dr-  Shannon. 
,,       James  Walsh. 
.,       Robert  Sands- 
Robert  Sands  Stackyard 
John  Walker  „ 
6ame  „ 
Lewis  Walsh                         „ 


OLD  MAGHMlAFELT. 


In  1837  there  were  no  houses  in  either  King 
Street  or  Garden  Street,  and  mme  on  the 
north  side  of  Meeting  Street.  In  the  year 
1858  the  only  dwellings  in  King  Street  were 
those,  of  the  Rev-  John  Quinn,  PP.,  and 
Mortimer  Hyncs-  In  the  same  year  in 
Garden  Street  the  buildings  were  offices  be- 
longing to  Robert  Sands,  two  small  houses 
occupied  by  "William  Hughes  and  Jane 
Henry,  and  which  were  situated  where  the 
house  at  present  occupied  by  Mr.  Oliphant 
now  stands,  and  a  school-house  which  is  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Joseph  Cowan's  premises1. 
The  remaining  houses  at  present  situated  in 
the  street  were  erected  by  Mr.  Hugh 
M' Lernon  about  the  year  1880,  and  those  in 
King  Street  some  time  previously.  The 
houses  at  present  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  Church  Street  and  occupied  bv  Mrs- 
M'Mullan,  Mrs-  Ramsay,  Mrs-  Houston,  Mr- 
Waiter  Bell  Mr.  Timoney,  and  Mr.  .James 
Johnston,  solicitor,  were  built  in  18G4  by  the 
Salters'  Company — they  having  demolished 
the  old  dwellings— at  a"cost  of  £250  each. 
The  Salters'  Company  also  erected  the  present 
dispensary  in  1858,  and  handed  it  over 
through  their  agent.  Mr.  Spotswood  to  the 
guardians  at  the  nominal    rent  of  Is  per  year. 

The  old  market  house  was  a  basaltic  building 
erected  on  arches  in  the  Diamond  in  1810  bv 
the  Salters'  Company.  It  was  42  feet  long, 
21  feet  wide,  and  two  stories  high-  On  its 
northern  side  was  erected  a  neat  oupolxora. 
underneath  which  was  the  town  clock-  The 
upper  storey  consisted  of  a  spacious  room,  and 
was  used  for  the  sale  of  flax,  meal,  etc-,  on 
market  days.  There  was  also  a  room  for  the 
weigh-master.  The  entrance  was  by  five 
large  archways ;  two  each  on  the  northern 
and  southern,  and  one  on  the  western  side, 
which  were  closed,  except  on  market  and  fair 
days,  by  large  iron  gates.  A  number  of  the 
present  inhabitants  entertain  pleasant  recol- 
lections of  the  evenings  they  spent  in  the 
old  market  house,  especially  in  connection 
with  the  interesting  debates  promoted  by  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  on 
occasions  when  those  who  did  not  see  eye  to 
eye  with  what  turned  out  to  be  the  popular 
side,  thoy  were  summarily  ejected.  Tho  place 
was  also  a  rendezvous  for  the  labouring  class 
seeking  employment,  and  any  employer  short 
of  hands  had  only  to  repair  to  tho  Market 
House,  where  he  would  find  ample  to  select 
from. 

Tho  Market  House  was  demolished  in  the 
year  1880,  Mr.  Hugh  M'Lemon,  merchant, 
Rainey  Street,  having  purchased  it  from 
tho  Salteirs'  Co.  in  that  year- 

The  clock  which  adorned  the  Market  House 
was  erected  in  the  year  1820,  at  a  cost  of  £70, 


and  was  provided  by  the  Parish,  as  per 
Resolution  of  the  Vestry,  passed  on  the  13th 
April,  1819— it  being  Resolved :— "That  a  sum 
"of  twopence  an  acre  be  laid  on  for  tho  pur- 
"pose  of  putting  up  a.  town  clock."  The  clock 
was  kept  wound  by  the  Parish  for  a 
lengthened  period  at*£2  a  year,  and  in  1830, 
£3  was  paid  for  winding  and  cleaning  it-  In 
1878  the  clock  was  sold  to  Sir  Nathaniel 
Staples,  Lissan,  and  at  present  can  be  seen  in 
the  farm  yard  at  Lissan,  having  been  put  into 
position  there  bv  the  late  Mr.  Brice  Galway, 
sea-,  Magheraielt-  Its  removal  caused 
genuine  exprcs-ions  of  regret.  Efforts  to 
have  it  retained  is  some-  eonspieious  place  in 
town  proved  unavailing,  notwithstanding  a 
storm  of  protest  in  the  Press- 

The  Old  Courthouse  (now  the  Town  Hall) 
was  built  in  1801  partly  by  the  Landlords  and 
partly  by  the  County-  It  was  74  feet  long  and 
22  fec-t  wide,  and  consisted  (prior  to  its  trans- 
formation) of  a  spacious  hall  at-  one  end  and 
two  jury  rooms  at  the  other.  The  intervening 
space-  was  fitted  up  with  jury  boxes  on  either 
sides,  which  opened  into  the  jury  looms.  At 
one  end  there  were  benches  for  the  Chairman 
of  Quarter  Sessions,  Magistrates,  etc,  and  the 
dock  was  situated  at  the  other  end,  near  tho 
door.  Many  an  exciting  scene  took  place 
within  those  walls,  for  in  addition  to  the 
lively  legal  episodes  which  invariaby  take 
place,  election  campaigns  were  also  conducted 
therein,  and  in  the  days  prior  to  t  lux  advent  of 
the  Ballot  Act,  the  voters  assembled  there  to 
record  their  votes,  which  took  two  days  to 
complete,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  site  to  see 
the  streets  lined  with  cavalry  to  preserve  tho 
peace  on  those  occasions.  The  Sessions,  at 
first,  were  held  half-yearly  in  June  and 
December,  but  this  was  changed  afterwards 
to  quarterly  courts-  Petty  Sessions  were  also 
held  in  it  every  other  Wednesday,  and  a 
Manorial  Court  was  held  monthly,  presided 
over  by  the  agents  of  the  Salter's'  Co.,  at 
which  civil  actions  within  the  Manor,  for 
sums  not  exceeding  £1  l(3s  lid,  were  heard 
by  a  jury  of  twelve,  with  a  right  of  appeal  to 
tho  Assizes.  The  Courthouse  was  converted 
into  its  present  shape  by  Mr-  Geo.  R- 
Tipping  about  the  year  1890,  at  a  cost  of 
£253  19s  (Id. 

The  Bridewell,  which  is  now  used  by  the 
caretaker  of  the  Town  Hall,  was  built  in*1839, 
on  the  site  of  the  Old  Linen  Hall,  by  the 
County,  and  cost  £515.  It  turned  out  to  bo 
unhealthy  and  unfit  for  the  confinement  of 
prisoners-  It  consisted  of  two  small  colls  15 
feet  by  12  feet,  and  8  feet  high,  one  opening 
off  the  other,  and  devoid  of  furniture-  The 
cells  were  situated  underneath  the  Court- 
house, and  the  only  light  was    obtained  from 


01  J)  MAGIIERAFEI/r. 


the  corridor,  in  the  opposite  side  of  which 
were  two  small  yards— one  for  males  and  the 
other  for  females.  As  many  as  twenty-eight 
male  prisoners  had  been  confined  during 
Quarter  Sessions- 

It  will  probably  come  as  a  surprise  to  the 
old  inhabitants  to  learn  that  the  ground 
occupied  by  the  old  Bridewell,  was  formerly 
occupied  bv  the  old  Linen  Hall,  which  waa 
built  in  1820,  and  was  120  feet  long  and  70 
feet  wide.  Sheds  were  erected  at  its  Northern 
side  for  keeping  the  linen  dry  in  wet  weather, 
and  in  the  Hall  were  rows  of  wooden  stands, 
upon  which  the  merchants  stood  during  the 
market-  The  Hall  was  found  unsuitable,  and 
a  new  Linen  Hall  was  erected  in  1837,  at  a 
cost  of  £294-  The  Salters'  Co.  contributed 
£140,  and  the  Marquis  of  Londonderry  and 
Sir  Robert  Bateson  £154.  It  was  enclosed  by 
a  high  wall,  with  sheds  and  standings  inside 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  merchants. 
The  Linen  Market  was  held  oa  the  second 
Thursday  in  each  month-  It  was  then  the 
staple  industry  of  the  country,  and  a  source 
of  great  prosperity.  At  that  time  the  Messrs. 
Walker  employed  from  1,000  to  1,500  weavers 
who  did  the  work  at  their  own  homes,  only  a 
few  residing  on  the  premises  at  Killyfaddy, 
while  100  men  were  employe!  to  prepare  the. 
yarn  for  the  looms.  The  markets  appeared  to 
have  been  very  extensive,  as  the  linen  and 
yarn  sold  amounted  to  about  £3,300  annually. 
Owing  to  the  introduction  of  machinery  in 
tho  large  towns,  the  industry  in  rural 
districts  ceased  to  a  great  extent,  and  the 
New  Hall  was  converted  into  dwelling-houses, 
and  portion  of  it  was,  until  quite  recently, 
occupied  by  tho  Technical  School-  Tin-  form 
of  the  gateway,  and  the  Salters  Coat  of  Amis. 
which  ther  presented  at  the  time  the  Hall 
was  erected,  remain  to  this  day- 

The  New  Courthouse  was  erected  in  tho 
year  18G9,  the  contractor  boing  Mr.  Geo.  II- 
Tipping,  Catledawson,  and  it  cost  £5,0(10. 
When  the  Old  Courthouse  became  unsuitable, 
it  is  said  that  the  late  Mr.  J.  J.  Clark, 
Largantogher,  Maghora  (father  of  Col  Clark, 
D.L.,  Chairman  of  the  Co-  Council),  in  order 
to  induce  the  Grand  Jury  to  build  it  in 
Maghora,  offered  a  free  site  in  that  town, 
but  the  people,  of  Magherafelt  brought  in- 
fluence to  bear  on  the  Salters'  Co.,  and  they 
not  only  gave  a  free  site,  but  also  a  donation 
of  £1,000  towards  its  erection.  The  Old 
Courthouse  then  became  their  property,  and 
a  the  sale  of  their  estate  they  transferred  it 
to  the  Town  Hall  Trustees.  The  court- 
keepers  of  the  Old  Courthouse  were  Sergeant 
Armstrong,  John  Adams  and  T.  C  Monteith, 
auctioneer  and  valuer,  who  also  had  charge  of 
the  New  Courthouse  till  his  death.  His  widow- 
succeeded  him,  and  is  the  present  court- 
keeper-  It  may  be  interesting  to  state  that 
provision  was  made  in  the  New  Courthouse 
for  the  keeping  of  prisoners  undergoing  short 


sentences  (instead  of  incurring  tho  expense,  of 
sending  them  to  Deny.)  The  cells  were  used 
for  that  purpose  for  some.  time,  and  the 
caretaker  was  allowed  remuneration  for  look- 
ing after  the  male  and  female  prisoners-  This 
continued  till  about  36  years  ago,  when  the 
cells  were  condemned  as  insanitary.  From 
that  date  all  prisoners  havo  been  sent  to 
Derry. 

The  Bridge,  known  a.s  Charity  Bridge, 
according  to  the  evidence  of  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  "Wilson,  before  the  Select  Committee  of 
tho  House  of  Commons,  on  the  Irish  Society 
and  London  Companies  Estates,  was  built  for 
the  improvement  of  tho  town  by  the  in- 
habitants, and  not,  a.s  generally  supposed,  by 
the  Salters'  Company- 

The  premises  in  Broad  Street  occupied  in 
1837  by  the  Ulster  Bank,  are  now  the  Post 
Office.  Mr-  Samuel  H  Porter's  premises  were 
formerly  occupied  by  Thomas  M'Fall,  and 
later  by  Archie  M'Fall,  who  was  well  known 
throughout  the  district.  He  carried  on  tho 
business  of  an  hotel-keeper,  and  the  buildings 
are  known  as  "'Hoiel  Buildings."  From  a 
description  contained  in  the  Terrier  (Rental) 
for  1845,  it  would  appeal-  that  it  was  a 
respectable  and  comfortable  inn  and  well 
conducted.  It  was  fitted  up  with  much 
internal  convenience,  an  additional  story 
added,  a  large  room  built,  and  new  stables 
erected— the  whole  costing  £1,000-  The  Hotel 
contained  16  beds- 

The  house  at  present  occupied  bv  Dr.  Kerlin 
was,  in  1837,  tenanted  by  Wilson  Mawhinney  ; 
while  James  Shaw  resided  in  a  house  on  which 
Dr.  Hunter's  premises  stand,  and  the  entrance 
to  the  rere  is  familiarly  known  as  "Shaws' 
Entry"  to  this  day,  the  office-houses  having 
been  dwelling-houses. 

Messrs-  Glover  and  M'Guckin's  solicitors' 
office  formerly  belonged  to  James  Hughes, 
and  in  1859  were  purchased  by  the  late  Mr- 
John  Glover,  solicitor,  from  Mrs-  Hughes,  for 
£300-  They  were  described  as  a  dilapidated 
and  ruinous  tenement  at  the  yearly  rent  of 
£10.  They  were  almost  rebuilt  by  Mr- 
Glover  at  a  cost  of  £500. 

John  Duncan  occupied  tho  business  promises 
now  belonging  to  Mr-  John  Shiels,  and  Joshua 
Adams,  watchmaker,  was  a  former  in- 
habitant of  those  now  in  posession  of  Mr. 
Brice  Galway. 

John  Daley  was    the    tenant  of    Mr.    P.  J. 

O'Kano's  present  premises.    It    was  formerly 

the     Post     Office,  and    tho    position     of     tlie 

"Letter  Box"  is  still  traceable- 
Mr.  John  Walsh's  Hotel  at  the  1837  period 

was  raised  an  extra   story,  and    the    premises 

substantially  repaired- 


so 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Wm.  Ferguson's  premises  occupied  the 
ground  now  covered  by  Mr.  John  Harbison's 
dwelling-house  and  offices-  They  were  for- 
merly the  Manor  office  and  dwelling-house, 
the  latter  evidently  being  intended  for  the 
principal  clerk  in  the  office-  They  and  the 
Manor  House  (now  the  Convent)  ware  erected 
at  a  cost  of  £4000,  about  the  year  I860- 

The  Northern  Bank  established  their 
branch  here  in  the  year  1835.  Prior  to  that 
they  had  an  agent.  The  managers,  in  1837, 
were  Messrs.  Gaussen  and  Duncan.  The  pre- 
sent manager  is  Mr-  W.  Adamson- 

The  Belfast  Bank  also  established  a  branch 
in  the  same  year  in  Rainey  Street.  The 
managers  were  Messrs  Walker,  and  a  repre- 
sentative of  that  family  continued  to  hold  th.2 
office  till  four  years  ago,  when  the  present 
manager,  Mr.  M-  B.  Redmond,  was  appointed. 
Mr.  John  "Walker,  on  his  retiring,  was  made 
the  recipient  of  a  handsome  presentation  from 
the  townspeople  and  others-  Mr.  Redmond, 
on  his  taking  up  Mr.  Walker's  mantle,  also 
received  public  recognition  in  the  shape  of  a 
gold  watch  and  chain  and  Mrs.  Redmond  a 
piece  of  plate- 
In  183G  Mr.  Fagan,  who  collected  the  in- 
formation connected  with  the  Parish,  reported 
that  the  four  principal  residences  about 
Magherafelt  were  Farm  Hill,  Glenbrook, 
Millbrook,  and  Rose  Lodge- 
Farm  Hill,  now  the  residence  of  Mrp. 
Stewart,  and  birth-place  of  Dr-  Stewart, 
Portglenone,  was  then  the  residence  of 
Captain  Blathwayt,  situated  in  Killyneese, 
about  half-way  between  Magherafelt  and 
Castledawson.  The  house  was  in  the  cottage 
style,  but  commodious.  The  situation  was 
exquisitely  beautiful,  commanding  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  extensive  views- 

Millbrook,  now  the  residence  of  Mr-  R 
M'Guckin,  solicitor,  was  then  in  the  occu- 
pation of  Mr.  Andrew  Spotswood,  agent  for 
the  Salters'  Company.  The  situation  was 
almost  hidden  from  view  by  the  Plantation. 
The  house  was  then  two  storied  and  modern. 
There  was  a  good  lawn  and  an  excellent- 
garden  attached-  Since  it  became  the  pro- 
perty of  Mr-  M'Guckin  tho  house  has  been 
rebuilt  and  is  lighted  throughout  by 
electricity. 

Rose  Lodge,  owned  by  Mr-  Wm.  Hastings, 
Clerk  of  Union  and  District  Council,  for- 
merly belonged  to  Mr-  Bryans,  and  during  his 
tenancy  he  approached  the  Salters'  Co.  for  a 
grant  of  a  long  lease,  as  ho  intended  to  start 
a  linen  mill,  but  the  Company,  it  seems, 
declined  to  grant  him  a  lease  suffiieently  long, 
consequently  Mr.  Bryans'  project  had  re- 
luctantly to  be  abandoned. 

Glenbrook,  the  residence  of  the  Cassidi 
family,  wa.s  built  about  the  vear  1830,  in  the 


Elizabethan  or  Tudor  style  of  architecture. 
It  is  charmingly  situated  *in  Polepatrick,  and 
formed  a  very  pretty  object  in  the  landscape- 

Tho  markets  and  fairs  of  Magherafelt  date 
back  to  the  year  1631.  In  that  year  a 
licence  was  granted  to  Ralph  Whistler,  agent 
or  lessee  of  the  Salters'  Company,  to  hold  a 
market  on  every  Thursday  at  the  town  of 
Magherafelt,  and  two  fairs,  one  on  the  14th 
August,  and  one  on  tho  18th  October  each 
year,  and  continue  for  two  days.  The 
markets  have  continued  weekly,  and  the  fairs 
evidently  became  so  popular  that  subse- 
quently it  was  found  necessary  to  hold  them 
more  frequently- 

.  The  market  in  Charity  Street  was  built  about 
the  year  1836  at  a  cost  of  £431.  The  Salters' 
Company  gave  a  donation  of  £25  towards  the 
cost,  in  addition  to  presenting  a  copy  of  their 
coat  of  arms,  which  was  affixed  over  the 
entrance  gateway.  The  Marquis  of  London- 
derry and  Sir  Robert  Bateson  (who  were  the 
lessees  of  the  estate  at  that  period)  contri- 
buted £406-  The  market,  when  provided, 
was  considered  sufficient  for  the  acommoda- 
tion  required  without  encroachment  upon 
the  streets.  Those  hopes,  however,  were  not 
fully  realised,  as  the  market  became  so  popu- 
lar that  within  a  comparatively  short  space  of 
time  it  was  found  quite  unable  to  cope  with 
tho  demands  made  upon  it.  At  the  present 
time  tho  markets  for  grass-seed,  hay,  straw, 
pork,  young  pigs,  flax,  etc-,  are  held  on  the 
streets,  and  a  short  time  ago  the  magistrates 
in  Petty  Sessions  were  called  upon  to  define 
the  position  the  carts  with  young  pigs  should 
occupy  in  Meeting  Street. 

Tho  corn  market,  situated  in  Moneymoro 
Street,  was  built  by  the  landlords  in  1818,  and 
the  grain  market  situated  in  same  place  was 
built  in  1830-  At  the  centre  of  the  east  side 
there  was  a  crane,  and  a  bell  rang  as  tho 
signal  for  the  commencement  of  tho  market. 
These  are  now  occupied  by  tho  butter  and  egg 
markets- 

Before  the  repeal  of  tho  Corn  Laws,  nbouc 
60  years  ago,  two  of  the  principal  jrops  grown 
in  this  district,  were  wheat  and  oats,  and  the 
quantities  offered  for  sale  being  very  large, 
tho  markets  would  extend  generally  irom 
Church  Street  to  the  foot  of  Rainey  Street, 
and  largo  consignments  would  be  carted  to 
Belfast  in  addition  to  what  was  sent  by 
lighters  from  Ballyronan.  It  was  ulso  the 
custom  for  a  number  of  p3vsons  to  purchase 
large  quantities  of  coin  for  the  puipose  of 
having  it  ground  into  oatmeal  (Indian  meal 
not  being  on  the  market  at  th.it  time),  and 
storing  it  in  what  was  then  Known  as  '  arts-" 
In  1837  the  markets  were  held  by  Mr.  AVn. 
M'Colhim  at  a  certain  rent.  Afteiwr.rds 
Mr-  Horace  T-  Gaussen  (now  of  Portstowart) 
ronted  them.  Subsequently  they  were  held  by 


OLD  MAGHERAFELT. 


31 


lessees.  Messrs.  Samuel  Porter,  James  Harbi- 
son, and  Archie  At 'Fall  (all  of  whom  aie 
deceased),  and  at  the  sale  of  tlie  estate  they 
were  transferred  by  the  Salters'  Company  to 
the  Market  Trustees  and  under  their  manage- 
ment they  have  become  most  successful,  and 
are  now  lookod  upon  as  very  important-  The 
other  markets  in  the  district  in  1851  were 
Castledawson  (held  every  Saturday/,  Drapers- 
town  (every  "Wedesday),  Maghera  (every 
Tuesday),  and  Moneymore  (every  Mondcy). 
The  latter  was  a  corn  market- 
As  previously  stated,  the  holding  of  fairs  in 
Magherafelt  was,  by  tho  licence  granted  i'i 
1631,  restricted  to  two  annually,  viz  ,  on  1-lth 
August  and  18th  October.  How  long  this 
arrangement  continued  is  not  quite  certain, 
but  according  to  Thorn's  Diior.Diy  for  the 
year  1854,  the  fairs  were  held  on  26th  Uay, 
25th  August,  and  29th  October  nai  h  year 
The  fair  then  became  so  successful  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  hold  it  on  the  last  Thurs- 
days in  each  month.  They  were  held  on 
tho  streets  up  to  the  year  1840,  but  this 
system  was  found  so  very  inconvenient  by 
the  general  public  that  representation  was 
made  to  the  lessees  (the  Bateson  family),  who 
provided  the  present  Fair  Hill  which  contains 
about  four  English  acres-  Buyers  attended 
from  all  the  principal  towns,  and  it  was  looked 
upon  as  a  really  good  fair.  The  fair  hill  was 
afterwards  improved  by  the  fair  hill  trustees, 
but  notwitlistanding  every  inducement  by  the 
trustees  and  people  of  the  town,  it  began  to 
decline,  and  has  now  become  extinct,  a  fate 
which  has  overtaken  some  of  the  neighbour- 
ing villages-  For  instance,  Castledawson, 
which  in  1854,  boasted  of  its  four  annual 
fairs,  held  on  the  1st  January,  Wednesday 
after  Easter,  1st  June,  and  1st  August,  and 
according  to  Thorn's  Directory  for  the  year 
1S70,  it  had  so  improved  that  the  fairs  were 
held  on  the  last  Saturday  in  each  month. 
Desertmartin  had  its  quintette,  viz-,  4th 
February,  8th  May,  7th  June,  1st  October, 
and  8th  November  ;  Curran  its  bi-annual  fair 
on  23rd  June  and  22nd  November;  and 
Swateragh,  which  had  its  quintette,  viz.,  3rd 
March,  17th  May,  17th  July,  and  3rd 
Docember-  It  also  seems  that  tolls  were  paid 
by  those  who  brought  cattle  and  goats  to 
Magherafelt  fair.  This  custom  has  not  been 
in  existence  for  a  lengthened  period. 

As  already  stated,  the  Salters'  Company 
from  the  Plantation  down  to  1853,  had  not 
the  estate  for  any  lengthened  periods  in  their 
actual  occupation  They  adopted  a  system  of 
leasing  to  others,  and  the  last  lea-se  (which 
was  for  99  years)  was  granted  to  the  Marquis 
of  Londonderry  and  Sir  Robert  Bateson,  and 
expired  on  tho  12th  May,  1853,  tho  rental 
being  £500  annually-  According  to  a  return 
made  by  Mr.  Spotswood  (agent  to  tho 
lessees)  on  the  9th  May,  1845,  the  total 
rental  was  £12,670  16s  4d-     At    that    period 


there  were  1,389  tenants  compared  with  191 
in  1752.  Of  those  1,389  tenancies  192  wore 
in  the  town  of  Magherafelt,  124  holding  under 
lease,  and  68  annual  tenancies,  and  tho  rent 
of  tho  town  was  returned  at  £337  13s  4d, 
being  looked  upon  merely  as  x  ground  rent. 
That  amount  included  £25  for  the  pig 
market  and  £35  for  tho  grain  market.  The 
average  length  of  tho  estate  was  eight  miles 
tho  width  four  miles,  and  it  had  a  frontage  of 
four  miles  along  Lough  Neagh-  The  estate 
covered  an  area  of  36  square  miles.  It  seems 
the  lessees  were  looked  upon  as  very  con- 
siderate landlords,  for  according  to  the  evid- 
ence given  by  tho  Rev-  Professor  Dickey  be- 
fore the  Morley  Commission  on  tho  London 
Companies'  estates  in  1890,  tho  Bateson 
family  granted  long  building  leases  to  the 
tenants,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  town 
of  Magherafelt  had  been  built  to  a  consider- 
able extent  by  tho  tenants  themselves,  tho 
valuation  of  the  town  then  being  £2,900-  In 
1855,  when  the  lea6©  to  the  Bateson  family 
expired,  the  Salters'  Company  had  a  survey 
of  the  town  made  by  Mr.  Stewart  Graham, 
tho  then  county  surveyor,  and  tho  rent  was 
increased  to  £721  19s  7d.  From  that  date 
till  tho  yearl865  there  seems  to  have  been  a 
gradual  increase,as  in  the  latter  year  the  rent 
from  tho  town  holdings  yielded  £935  19s  Id. 
Tho  reason  given  by  the  Company  for  the  in- 
crease (in  reply  to  a  memorial  from  the  ten- 
ants of  the  town,  adopted  at  a  public  meeting 
held  on  the  19th  April,  1867),  was  that  dur- 
ing the  ten  year's  from  1855  to  1865  they  had 
expended  £8,000  in  the  erection  of  new 
buildings  and  in  the  purchase  of  tenants' 
interests,  and,  in  addition,  £1,500  had  been 
spent  by  them  in  re-building  the  Rainey 
School.  They  also  stated  that  the  gross 
receipts  of  the  rental  from  1853  to  1S65  was 
£8,535  8s  Od,  and  during  that  period  tho  sum 
expended  by  them  in  the  town  amounted  to 
£16,500,  independent  of  a  further  sum  of 
£4,000  in  the  erection  of  a  manor  house  and 
agent's  office-  It  was  asserted  by  the  tenants 
of  tho  town  that  had  the  Salters'  Company 
encouraged  them  by  granting  them  long 
leases  tho  town  would  not,  as  at  present,  be 
devoid  of  factories,  and  would  have  been 
more  important,  and  it  was  pointed  out  by 
tho  Rev.  Professor  Dickey  in  his  evidence 
already  referred  to  that  tho  Salters'  Company 
refused  to  grant  a  long  lease  to  Thomas 
Bryan  (who  lived  in  Ross  Lodge)  for  tb-,>  pur- 
pose of  enabling  him  to  establish  manu- 
facturies,  and  that  Mr.  Montgomery,  who  had 
a  coach  factory  in  Union  Road,  and  who  paid 
from  £14  to  £15  a  week  in  wages  about  the 
year  1880,  had  to  remove  to  Omagh  on  ihe 
same  grounds-  And  the  late  Mr  John 
Glover,  solicitor  (of  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
Glover  and  M'Guekin),  in  a  'etter  dated  30th 
March,  1886,  forwarding  a  prospectus  of  a 
Company  (Knoekloughrim  Flax  and  Tow- 
Spinning  Co.,  Ltd),  and  addressed  to  Mr. 
Andrew     Spotswood,  agent    of    tho    Salters' 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Company,  stated  that  it  was  at  first  contem- 
plated to  establish  the  company  for  weaving 
and  spinning  lirens  in  Magherafelt  with  a 
capital  of  £50,000  to  £100,000,  but  the  feel- 
ing of  insecurity  was  such  that  every  person 
shrunk  from  it  when  it  vas  first  mentioned. 
It  is  the  general  opinion  that  had  the  com- 
pany encouraged  industries  by  granting  leases 
for  reasonable  periods,  Magherafelt  would, 
in  all  probability  bo  a  more  thriving  centre 
than  it  is  at  present-  Notwithstanding  that 
groat  drawback  it  has  held  its  own  in  the 
race  for  "importance"  in  the  county.  Of 
course  had  the  population  warranted  the 
application  of  the  Towns  Improvement  Act, 
wo  would  now  be  enjoying  the  benefits  which 
it  is  asserted  follow  in  the  train  of 
that  measure-  An  effort  was  made  to  have* 
tho  town  brought  under  this  Act  by  the  late 
Mr.  Samuel  Porter,  J-P.,  the  late  Mr.  John 
Donaghy,  and  the  late  Mr.  x\Lex-  Johnston 
about  the  year  1889-  A  meeting  was  held  in 
the  new  courthouse,  but  the  opposition  was 
so  vigorous  that  the  project  had  :to  be 
abandoned.  The  population  did  not  warrant 
it,  but  tho  scheme  put  forward  by  the  pro- 
moters was  to  include  the  workhouse  and  the 
townparks.  The  promoters  evidently  wished 
tho  inhabitants  to  take  advantage  of  the  offer 
that  had  been  made  by  the  Salters'  Company 
of  £2,000  towards  the  bringing  in  of  a  proper 
water  supply,  and  the  improvement  of  the 
drainage  of  the  town,  and  also  the  establish- 
ing of  the  markets  as  public  markets-  This 
sum,  although  generous  looking,  was  con- 
sidered very  inadequate,  as  it  was  estimated 
that  to  carry  out  the  idea  it  would  take 
£8,000,  and  that  was  probably  one  of  the 
reasons  why  it  was  declined.  At  a  later  period 
Mr.  Adamson,  manager  of  the  Northern 
Bank,  had  a  survey  made  of  the  cost  of  bring- 
ing in  a  water  supply,  and  submitted  it  to  tho 
District  Council  with  an  offer  of  a  substantial 
grant  towards  carrying  it  out,  but  that  also 
was  declined,  as  the  cost  to  tho  ratepayers 
would  have  boon  very  heavy.  How  the  town 
has  decreased  in  population  through  emigra- 
tion and  migration  may  be  gathered  from  the 
following  : — According  to  tho  census  of  1831, 
the  population  numbered  1,430,  and  the 
religious  denomination  was  485  Irish  Church, 
587  Roman  Catholics,  310  Presbyterians,  and 
54  others-  In  1841  it  had  increased  to  1560, 
which  was  the  highest  number  reached- 
There  were  242  houses  inhabited  by  729 
males  and  831  females,  and  11  houses  were 
uninhabited.  In  1851  it  was  1,390 ;  in  1861, 
1,295;  in  1871,  1,401;  in  1881,  1,514 ;  in 
1891,  1,421 ;  in  1901,  1,328;  and  in  1911, 
1,233  (595  males  and  638  females  residing  in 
267  houses.  The  fall  in  1911  is  partly 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  a  good  number 
of  the  inhabitants  went  down  to  Portstewart 
on  tho  eve  of  tho  census  for  the  purpose  of 
swelling  tho  population  there  in  the  en- 
deavour to  have  it  placed  under  the  Towns' 
Improvement    Act-     As  an    instance  of    the 


increase  of  prosperity  since  the  sale  of  the 
estate  it  may  be  mentioned  that,  according  to 
a  letter  forwarded  by  tho  late  Mr.  John 
Glover  to  tho  Salters'  Company  in  1866, 
there  were  in  that  year  27  grocers,  18  pub- 
licans, 7  woollen  drapers,  and  4  retailers  of 
bacon  in  Magherafelt,  whereas  now  thero  are 
23  grocers,  31  publicans,  15  drapers,  4 
clothiers,  and  1  retailer  of  bacon,  and  tho 
population  is  1,233,  as  compared  with  1,295 
in  1861- 

One  often  hears  expressions  of  sorrow  and 
disappointment  at  the  fact  that  no  portion  of 
South  Deny — no  matter  hov  small — was 
allowed  to  remain  in  iis  origami  s-tate,  as 
found  by  the  "Planters."  It  would  be 
greatly  prized  and  immensely  valued.  Those 
disappointments  were  evidently  felt  at  a 
pretty  early  stage  by  tho  deputations  from 
the  several  companies  who  visited  the  estates 
from  time  to  time-  As  already  stated,  the 
Salters'  Company's  portion  was  practically 
a  huge  forest,  and  in  1845  they  explained  tho 
cause  of  the  scarcity  of  trees  to  be  due  to 
(1)  tho  destruction  which  was  made  of  the 
woods  to  prevent  their  being  a  shelter  to  tbe 
native  Irish;  (2)  lavish  waste  of  fuel;  (3) 
the  exportation  of  staves,  which  was  once  tho 
staple  industry  of  Ireland  ;  and  (4)  the 
demand  for  charcoal  for  smelting  lead  and 
iron.  And  in  the  "Concise  View"  issued  by 
the  Irish  Society,  it  is  stated  that  in  1685 
iron  works  were  erected  on  the  estates  of  tho 
different  companies— there  were  works  at 
Castledawson  and  Ballinderry — tho  ovena 
being  kindled  with  charcoal,  and  tho  fur- 
naces, when  onco  kindled,  were  kept  burning 
from  one  year's  end  to  the  other,  and  blown 
day  and  night  by    bellows    worked  by    water. 

From  whatever  cause  (tho  enlightenment 
of  tho  twentieth  century,  or  the  slight  in- 
crease in  the  population)  tho  fact  is  borno  in 
upon  us  that  the  preservation  of  the  peace  of 
the  town  and  district  is  to-day  a  matter  of 
far  greater  magnitude  than  it  formerly  was- 
The  Royal  Irish  Constabulary  was  formed 
about  the  year  1836,  following  on  tho  "man 
in  blue,"  who  was  brought  into  existence  in 
England  in  1829  by  Sir  Robert  Peel,  which 
accounts  for  tho  fact  that  to  this  day  tho 
members  are  often  called  "Peelers." 
The  prefix  "Royal"  was  added  in  1867  in 
recognition  of  tho  services  rendered  by  them 
at  the  Fenian  rising,  and  they  are  admitted 
to  bo  the  finest  body  of  police  in  the  world- 
In  1836  the  force  in  Magherafelt  consisted 
of  three  members,  a  like  number  being 
stationed  in  Castledawson.  The  house  which 
then  served  as  a  barrack  is  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Alex-  M'lvor,  Church  Street — it  was 
then  in  possession  of  Mr.  George  Cassidy.  The 
force  now  consists  of  a  District-Inspector, 
Head-Constable,  two  Sergeants,  and  seven 
Constables.  Besides  being  Peace  Officers  they 
now  perform  the  duties    which  used  to  fall  to 


THE  OLD  CHURCH.  MAGHERAFELT. 


COL.  F.  P.  CASSIDL  J. P.,  Glenbrook 


ST.  SWTJ'HLVS  CHURCH. 


-     ft 

v- 


'i  ■ 


INTERIOR  OF  ST.  SWITHIN'S  CHURCH. 


OLD  MAG  1 1  ERA  KELT. 


tho  Revenue  Police  Before  their  establish- 
ment the  Select  Vestry  had  the  oversight  of 
the  good  behaviour  of  the  inhabitants,  and 
each  year  they  appointed  Petty  Constables 
who,  in  all  probability,  assisted  the  military  in 
preserving  order,  for  Magherafelt  had  for 
many  years  the  honour  of  having  a  detach- 
ment of  Cavalry  and  Infantry  stationed 
therein.  The  persons  so  appointed  evidently 
performed  their  duties  gratuitously  until 
1742.  In  that  year,  whether  the  fulfilment  of 
those  duties  had  become  more  exacting,  or 
that  voluntary  services  were  more  difficult  to 
obtain,  the  vestry  ordered  that  £1  be  granted 
as  salary.  This  sum  was  increased  to  £1  10s, 
and  in  1747  a  further  increase  to  £2  was 
made,  at  which  princely  sum  it  would  appear 
to  have  remained  till  1760,  after  which  date 
there  does  not  appear  any  further  entry  of 
Constables  having  been  appointed.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  those  appointed  :— 1717, 
Wm.  Maghlin,  petty  constable  ;  1718,  John 
Mitchell;  1719,  Wm.  M'Kelvey;  1731,  James 
Cleeland  and  James  Duncan,  jun-,  for  town 
and  parish  ;  1732,  John  Girvan  and  James 
Gilmoro;  1733,  Richard  Ditty  and  Stewart 
Morton;  1738,  Wm.  Clownish,  of  Shane- 
mullagh,  for  parish;  1739,  John  Fearsofi, 
Ballynocker;  1740,  Wm.  Brown,  Tullylinksay ; 
1741,  Matthew  M'Kee,  Ballynocker;  1742-3-4, 
James  Cox,  Magherafelt ;  1745  to  1756,  Alex- 
Brown,  Magherafelt  ;  1757,  Robert  Lees, 
Killyneece,  and  James  Miller,  Magherafelt; 
1758,  Benjamin  Redfern,  for  country,  and 
John  M'Murdy  for  town  ;  1759,  Thomas  Lee, 
Drumrainey,  for  country,  and  Wm.  Brown 
for  town;  1760,  Hugh  Brown,  Tullylinksay, 
for  country,  and  Wm.  Kilpatriek  for  town- 
The  military  evidently  took  their  departure 
about  the  time  the  constabulary  force  was 
formed,  for  in  1836  Mr.  Pagan  remarks  :— 
"There  are  not  now  any  military  stationed 
hero." 

The  principal  means  of  travelling  to  Belfast 
and  Dublin  was  by  coach,  in  the  early  portion 
of  the  19th  century. 

In  1836  a  coach  from  Cookstown  to  Belfast 
passed  through  Magherafelt  every  morning 
(Sunday  excepted)  at  6-30,  arriving  in  Belfast 
at  11  am.  It  left  Belfast  at  3  o'clock  same 
day  and  arrived  in  Magherafelt  at  8  o'clock, 
p.m.  Outside  faro  cost  4s  6d,  and  inside  6s  fid. 
Thero  were  eleven  regular  carmen  who  plied 
between  Magherafelt  and  Belfast,  and 
generally  returned  on  the  fourth  clay  after 
departure-  Thero  was  also  one  chaise  and 
eight  post  horses  for  hire  in  the  town.  The 
charge  for  a  horse  and  car  was  8d  per  Irish 
mile  per  head,  and  a  shilling  per  mile  per  head 
for  the  chaise.  It  seems  it  was  the  custom 
of  some  of  the  business  people  in  those  days 
to  walk  to  Belfast  and  return  same  day— a 
feat  we,  in  the  twentieth  century,  would  not 
think  of  embarking    upon-    It  is  told    of  the 


father  of  the  present  Robert  M'Kenna,  King 
Street,  that  he  went  to  Belfast,  and  when  ho 
reached  Toome  on  his  return  journey  ho 
played  a  challenge  handball  match  and  won- 
Truly  they  were  stalwarts  in  those  days- 

Tho  Railway  to  Cookstown  from  Randals- 
town  was  made  in  1857,  and  from  that  year  it 
became  the  principal  means  of  travelling, 
although  for  a  considerable  time  tho  "Irish 
Jaunting  Car"  was  a  formidable  rival,  but 
was  eventually  forced  to  give  way-  Naturally 
there  was  great  interest  manifested  in  tho 
"Carriages  running  without  horses,"  and  the 
people  of  the  town  and  country  flocked  to 
witness  the  first  train  pass  up.  To  say  that 
astonishment  was  expressed  in  every  face  is 
but  to  put  the  fact  very  mildly.  It  is  said 
that  when  first  made  there  was  a  "halt"  at 
Killyboggin  to  accommodate  the  people  round 
about  that  district  going  and  coming  from 
Cookstown  and  Magherafelt  markets  and 
fairs,  but  it  ceased  to  exist  after  some  time. 

The  lighting  of  the  town  of  Magherafelt, 
prior  to  1871,  was  not  at  "all  satisfactory. 
Mr.  H.  E.  Cartwright,  J. P.,  agent  to  tho 
Salters'  Co.,  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and  a 
meeting  was  held  in  1870,  when  it  was 
decided  to  have  gas  introduced.  An  in- 
fluential working  committee  was  appointed, 
and  the  people  of  the  town  gave  every 
encouragement,  and  the  Salters'  Company, 
assisted.  A  site  was  obtained  from  Dr.  J.  S. 
Vesey,  father  of  the  late  Dr.  A.  B.  Yesey, 
J. P.  The  works  having  been  completed,  tho 
residents  celebrated  tho  event  by  illuminating 
their  windows.  Tar  barrels  were  burned  and 
congratulatory  speeches  made.  The  public 
lamps  were  provided  by  subscription— the 
townspeople  generously  doing  their  part,  and 
the  Salters'  Company  gave  a  donation  of 
£300.  Of  course  an  annual  contribution  had 
to  be  collected  to  enable  the  Gas  Company  to 
have  the  town  properly  lighted,  but  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of  the  Market  Trustees,  this 
bin  den  has  been  removed  to  their  shoulders. 
Who  tho  directors  were  who  first  took  tho 
matter  of  the  Gasworks  in  hands  is  not 
locally  known,  but  in  1876  the  following 
occupied  that  position— viz.,  Messrs.  H.  E. 
Cartwright,  J. P.  (chairman);  Archibald 
M'Fall,  James  Sands,  Thomas  AVilson,  Samuel 
Derby,  John  Graham,  sen.  ;  John  Donaghy, 
and  Thomas  S.  Taylor;  the  auditors 
were  Messrs.  Robert  Hanna  and  James 
lligginbothorn  •  the  treasurer  was  T.  S. 
Taylor;  the  hon.  secretary,  Archibald  M'Fall, 
and  the  solicitor,  John  Glover,  all  of  whom 
have  gone  over  to  tho  great  majority.  From 
tho  report  submitted  to  the  Directors  on 
24th  July,  1877,  it  appeared  that  the  working 
of  the  Company  had  proceeded  satisfactorily, 
and  that  the  manager,  Mr.  Lecky,  had 
exerted  himself  in  keeping  all  connected  with 
the  Gas    supply  in    good    order,  and     by     his 


34 


TTTRTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


efficient  management  had  increased  the 
amount  obtained  by  the  sale  of  residual  pro- 
ducts to  £55  6s  5d.  And  a  pleasing  feature  of 
the  report  was  that  the  balance  to  tho  credit 
of  tho  account  enabled  them  to  recommend  a 
divident  of  five  per  cent.,  and  the  carrying 
forward  of  a  substantial  balance.  Tho  work- 
ing of  the  Company  on  the  whole  proved  satis- 
factory. However  one  of  tho  first  real  draw- 
backs was  the  action  of  the  Guardians  in  tho 
year  1904  in  substituting  Acetylene  Gas  for 
Coal  Gas.  At  that  period  the  Board  had  boon 
a  substantial  consumer,  having  paid  £100  2s 
during  the  two  years  ended  March,  1904. 
Prior  to  deciding  on  the  change,  a  deputation 
from  tho  Gas  Co.,  consisting  of  the  late* Mr. 
Samuel  Porter,  J. P.,  and  Mr.  John  Harbison, 
solicitor,  appeared  and  endeavoured  to  induce 
tho  Guardians  to  alter  their  decision,  but  were 
not  successful.  This  evidently  did  not  tend 
to  encourage  the  Directors  to  "doughty'' 
deeds,  and  in  190G  the  Company  sold  the 
works,  plant,  etc.,  to  Messrs.  Anderson  Bros., 
London,  in  whose  hands  tho  concern  still  is, 
and  seven  years  ago  they  startled  the  United 
Kingdom  by  appointing  a  lady  manager, 
which  turned  out  to  be  the  first  appointment 
of  the  kind  in  the  world.  The  experiment 
was  on  tho  whole  successful,  and  amongst 
other  notable  things,  Magherafelt  can,  in  this 
respect,  boast  of  having  set  an  example  for 
the  unirorse. 


In  the  year  1836,  it  is  reported  that  a  Show 
of  Cattle  and  Crops  was  held  annually  in 
Magherafelt.  It  continued  for  some  years, 
but  eventually  became  extinct.  A  number  of 
years  ago  an  effort  was  mado  to  revive  the 
show,  principally  through  the  efiorts  of  tho 
late  Mr.  Samuel  Porter,  J. P.,  who  was 
always  one  of  the  foremost  in  inaugurating 
any  project  which  was  for  the  benefit  of  tho 
town — and  Mr.  Louis  Smyth ;  but  their 
praiseworthy  efiorts  proved  unsuccessful.  In 
its  stead,  however,  tho  annual  ploughing 
match, which  had  ceased  to  exist  after  the  sale 
of  the  Estate,  was  reinstated,  and  thanks  to 
the  efforts  of  the  Committee,  and  Mr.  Jamea 
Walsh,  hon.  secretary,  it  has  been  most 
successful.  In  1875  people  of  the  district 
*  around  Desertmartin  and  Kilcronaghau  in- 
augurated a  flower,  fruit  and  vegetable  show, 
called  tho  Desertmartin  and  Kilcronaghan 
Cottage  Gardening  Society.  It  was  generally 
held  convenient  to  the  Rectory,  and  during 
tho  month  of  August.  It  continued  in  exis- 
tence for  about  ten  years.  Now  that  an  annual 
general  holiday  has  been  established,  it  might 
interest  those  who  succeeded  in  establishing 
the  fixture,  to  learn  that  they  are  only 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  the  merchants 
so  far  back  as  1877,  who  gave  their  employees 
their  annual  holiday,  which  took  place 
generally  on  the  third  Friday  in  June. 


THE  CASSIDI  FAMILY.  181-51-08 


Tlw  Cassidi  Family  is  a  very  old  Irish 
one,  which  the  following,  taken  from  Burke's 
Landed  Gentry  will  show  : — 

Lineage. — The  very  ancient  Celtic  family 
of  \'ii  Caisidc  or  O'Cassidy  has  been  for  ages 
seated  in  tho  Co-  Fermanagh,  where  the 
village  of  Ballycassidy,  adjacent  to  Ennis- 
killen,  yet  locally  preserves  the  name-  Their 
territory  was  called  Cuil-na-n-Oirear  (i.e.  the 
corner  or  angle  of  harbours),  situate<l  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  the  Upper  Loch  Erne,  imme- 
diately opposite  some  beautiful  islets,  whose 
indentations  form  the  minaturo  haven  that 
gave  the  place  its  title-  It  is  now  called  'The 
Barony  of  Coole.'  The  Fa  Caiside  were  here- 
ditary ollaves  in  medicine  (or  state 
physicians)  of  tho  Maguiros,  the  olden 
monarchs  of  Fermanagh  ;  and  they  held  their 
district  ox-officio,  according  to  the  laws  of 
tanistry.  Notices  of  tho  clan  abound  in 
the  annals  of  the  Four  Masters.  In  U43 
died  Gilla  Moduda  O'Cassidy,  abbot  of  Ard- 
brocon.  He  was  author  of  a  list  of  Kings  of 
Ireland  from  tho  introduction  of  Christianity 
to  AD  1022-  In  1322  Fineen  O'Cassidy,  of 
Coole,  Chief  Physician  of  Fermanagh,  .lied- 
He  was  succeeded  by  Gilla-na-n-  Angel 
O'Caiside,  who  died  1335.  Teige,  son  of 
Joseph  O'Caiside,  of  Coole,  ollav  of  Fer- 
managh, died  1450.  Five  years  after  we  hud 
the  obit,  of  Dermot  ruadh,  son  of  Niel  ruadh, 
of  Coole.  In  1490  the  O'Cassidy,  of  Coole, 
died-  In  1504  we  have  the  death  of  Piereo 
MacThomas  O'Cassidy,  of  Coole,  and  of  him 
tho  Four  Masters  tell  us  that  he  was  'Ollav  to 
'Maguire  in  physic-  A  man  truly  learned  in 
'literature  and  medical  science  ;  and  kept  an 
'open  house  for  hospitality-'  In  1520  Felim 
O'Cassidy,  son  of  Teige,  ollav  to  the  race  of 
Philip  Maguire,  died.  In  1541  died  Roderick 
Cassidy,  Archdeacon  of  Clobber,  eminently 
versed  (as  Sir  James  Ware  informs  us)  in  the 
historical  records  of  his  country.  Besides 
having  written  part  of  the  Register  of 
Ologher,  he  also  compiled  tho  latter  part  of 
'The  Annals  of  LTlster."  Among  inquisitions 
in  the  Exchequer  is  one  taken  at  Ballycassidy, 
Co-  Fermanagh,  21st  September,  1030,  respect- 
ing 'Cormack  O'Cashedy-'  At  this  time  the 
family  had  branched  out  widely  in  the 
Counties  of  Fermanagh,  Louth  and 
Monaghan,  and  to    one  of     these  Scions     we 


refer: — Henry  O'Cassidy,  Esq.,  M.D.,  who 
had  followed  his  ancestrial  pursuits  in 
medicine,  was  of  Greatwood,  Mullaghbawn 
and  Drum!  irk.  Co  Louth,  and  of  various 
estates  in  Co-  Monaghan-  He  was  born  in 
1050.  We  find  10th  April,  1C90,  that  King 
James  the  Second  issued  a  Commission  to 
him  in  conjunction  with  the  High  Sheriffs 
of  the  Co.  Monaghan  pro  tern,  and  live 
others  (mostly  military  persons),  to  make 
an  appointment  upon  their  County  for 
£1052  4s  Otl  for  three  months.  '  Dr. 
O'Cassidy  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 
Fergus  was  his  heir.  Fergus  had  two  sons- 
P-.trick  hie  heir,  dr.  d  :n  oth  July  1753  and 
by  his  will  desired  to  'be  buried  in  my  tombo 
at  Carrick  M'Koss.'  The  youngest  son, 
Francis,  born  1747,  was  of  Cashel,  Co. 
Tipperary,  and  he  married  Sarah  Magee, 
first  cousin  of  Archbishop  Magee,  of  Dublin. 
He  died  in  18(12-  His  eldest  son  was  Rev. 
Mark  Cassidy,  A.M.,  born  1st  August,  1777, 
Scholar  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  1797.  Ho 
married  in  1808,  and  had  eight  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Francis  Peter,  his  second  son, 
succeeded  him.  Tho  l!ev-  Mark  Cassidy  was 
Chancellor  of  Kilfernora  and  Incumbent  of 
Newtownards,  and  died  10th  December,  1839. 
ARMS. —Per  chevron  Arg.  aim]  gu.  two  lions 
rampart  in  chief,  and  a  boar  passant  in  base 
counterchanged.  CREST.— A  spear  broken 
into  three  pieces;  two  in  Saltire 
and  the  head  in  pale  ppr-  banded 
gu.  (Another  crest  was  a  caducous, 
perhaps  referring  to  mercury  and  the  ancient 
healing  arts  of  the  family.)  Motto. — Fran-gas 
ntm  llectes-  The  son  of  l{ev-  Mark  Cassidy, 
rcfered  to,  was  Colonel  Francis  Peter 
Cassidy,  of  Glenbrook,  and  father  of  Dr.  F.  P. 
Cassidi,  of  Derby,  and  Miss  Cassidi,  Glenbrook. 
He  was  Colonel  of  the  34th  Regiment,  and 
Musketry  Instructor.  He  served  with  bis 
regiment  during  the  Indian  Mutiny,  was  fre- 
quently mentioned  in  despatches,  and  was 
wounded  at  Cawnporo  on  20th  November, 
1857-  Ho  was  a  magistrate  for  the  County, 
and  for  manv  rears  ox-officio  member  of  the 
Magherafelt '  Board  of  Guardians-  At  the 
time  of  the  Disestablishment  of  the  Church 
of  Ireland  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Parochial  nominators  of  the  congregation 
and  a  member  of  the  Select  Vostiy  of  St. 
Swithin's  Church. 


THE  OLD  PARISH  CHURCH. 


Reliable  information  as  to  tbe  exact  year 
in  which  this  Chinch,  now  in  ruins,  was  fust 
erected,  is  not  at  present  available.  Thai 
it  was  in  existence  in  the  year  1425  is  beyond 
doubt,  for  the  late  Bishop  Reeves  mentions 
that  Malachy  O'Mulehallyn  _  had  the 
ecclesiastical  oversight  of  the  Parish,  that  he 
died  in  142o,  and  was  succeeded  by  Neal 
O'Corre.  How  long,  prior  to  that  year, 
neither  Reeves  nor  Ware  state,  but  at  that 
period  it  was  looked  upon  as  the  Ancient 
Church  of  Magherafelt.  As  mentioned  pre- 
viously, there  is  a  legend  that  St.  Patrick* 
when  passing  through  the  district, 
worshipped  in  the  Church,  and  founded  the 
well,  which  is  situated  opposite  the  gate. 
Readers  of  Irish  History  are  aware  that  the 
periods  under  review  were  of  a  very  turbulent 
and  troublesome  character,  and  although  the 
district  around  Magherafelt  was  principally 
covered  with  forests,  which  proved  a  great 
boon  to  the  Clansmen  of  Hugh  O'Neill 
and  others  when  heavily  pressed,  buildings, 
such  as  churches,  naturally  came  in  for  par- 
ticular attention  from  the  invaders,  as  likely 
to  be  used  as  a  hiding-place  by  the  pursued. 
It  is,  therefore,  not  surprising  to  learn  that 
this  Church  passed  through  many  vicissi- 
tudes. Unfortunately  the  records  known  to 
bo  extant  in  connection  with  the  Church, 
only  date  from  1717,  and  the  explanation 
given  (quite  a  natural  one)  is  that  the  Church 
had  been  destroyed  on  many  an  occasion. 
Reeves  mentions  that  it  was  in  ruins  in  1616. 
It  was,  however,  built  somo  years  after- 
wards; for  in  Lewis'  Topographical 
Dictionary,  published  in  1837,  it  is  related 
that  the  Old  Church  in  Magherafelt  was 
burned  down  dining  the  Rebellion  of  1641, 
and  the  town  plundered  by  the  insurgents. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  were  murdered  and 
others  put  to  ransom.  It  was  then  rebuilt 
in  1664,  and  it  seems  that  in  1688  the  town 
was  again  plundered,  the  inhabitants  fleeing 
to  tho  mountains,  finding  shelter  in  Deny, 
forming  part  of  the  garrison  during  tho 
memorable  Siege.  On  that  occasion  the 
Church  escaped  destruction,  as  the  enemy 
used  it  as  a  barrack.  In  1699  Mr.  Gabriel 
Whistler  (the  Salters'  Company's  lessee,  of 
whom  James  M'Neill  Whistler,  the  famous 
painter,  was  a  descendant)  covenanted  to 
repair  the  Church  and  enclose  the  Church- 
yard with  walls.  It  must  have  again  been 
damaged,  as  it  is  stated  in  the  "Concise 
View,"  published  by  the  Irish  Society,  that 
in  the  year  1717,  timber  was  sent  over  from 
London  to  repair  the  roof  of  tho  Church,  and 
it  is  probable  that  prior  to  that  date  tho 
Records  must  have  been  destroyed,  as  the 
minutes  date  from  that  year. 


The  Vestries,  which  were  brought  into 
existence,  had  very  onerous  and  important 
duties.  They  represented  the  whole  Parish, 
and  were  responsible  for  the  making  and 
upkeep  of  the  roads,  the  good  behaviour  of 
the  inhabitants,  the  keeping  in  «ood  con- 
dition of  all  public  buildings,  and  the  looking 
after  of  the  health  of  the  people.  In  fact 
they  discharged  the  duties  now  carried  out 
by  the  County  and  District  Council 
Authorities  and  Board  of  Guardians.  They 
had  the  power  to  raise  money  for  those  pur- 
poses, and  the  general  way  adopted  was  by 
assessing  a  certain  poundage  rate  per  acre, 
and  in  case  any  person  refused  to  pav  the 
Churchwardens  (who  were  charged  with  the 
duty  of  having  it  collected)  were  "empowered 
"to  distrain  for  ye  Cesses  if  occasion 
"required,"  and  in  addition,  they  had  also 
power  to  impose  certain  additional  penalties. 
Their  word  was  law,  which  brooked  no  inter- 
ference. The  Vestry  met  once  a  year 
(generally  during  Easter  week)  and  oftener 
as  occasion  required,  or  by  request  of  the 
government  of  the  day.  The  Rector  for  tho 
time  being  was  the  Chairman,  and  those  who 
met  as  the  Vestry  represented  all  classes  and 
creeds.  There  does  not  seem  to  be  on  record 
in  what  manner  the  Vestry  was  elected — if 
elected  at  all — same  as  those  of  the  present 
day.  The  general  idea  is  that  any  person 
who  felt  inclined  could  attend.  How  many 
did  so  is  not  recorded — the  minutes  only  con- 
tain the  signatures  of  a  number  of  persons 
present,  from  a  dozen  to  twenty-four. 


Thore  was  only  one  burying-ground,  and 
all  were  interred  therein.  Some  people 
think  that  such  a  state  of  things  should  have 
continued,  that  we  probably  would  have  been 
a  happy  family,  and  the  penalty  we  now  have 
to  pay  for  our  departure  from  the  old  order 
of  things  would  not  have  been  exacted.  Tho 
Churchwardens,  as  now,  were  responsible 
for  tho  good  order  of  the  Church  for  Service, 
and  providing  of  all  necessary  equipment. 
The  Churchwardens  for  the  year,  1717,  were 
Major  Thomas  Ash  and  Captain  William 
Watson,  and  the  Synodsmen  were  James 
Garvin,  jun.,  and  Thomas  Cornwall.  A  cess 
of  £13  was  assessed  for  providing  necessary 
articles  for  the  Church  in  1717,  and  on  the 
14th  April,  1718,  an  account  of  how  that 
amount  was  expended  was  submitted  as 
follows : — 


THE  OLD  PARISH  CHURCH. 


37 


BY  CAPTAIN  WATSON. 

For  a  Pulpit  Cushion  and  Carpet       £6  18  4 

THE  PARTICULARS. 

For  a  yard  and  half  of  Velvet            £2     0  0 

For  Persian  to  line  the  Cushion            0     3  G 
For  3  yards  of  Cloth  for  ye  Carpet 

for  ye  Communion  Table                 3     3  0 

For  Galloon  and  Tessels                           0  10  8 

For  making  Cushion  and  Carpet            0  15  0 

For  Carriage  to  Maghera                       0     5  i 

And  from  thence  to  Dawson's  Bridge  0      i  i 


£G  18 


For    12    yards    Holland    for  a  Sui 

pliee,  at  3s  6d  per  yard 
For  making  and  fetching  it 
For  altering  the  Pulpit 
For  a  Pair  of  Hinges  for  ye  Chancel 

Rails 
For  mending  the  lock  on  ye  Church 

Gato 
To  Mr.  Birkby  for  Sacrament  Wine 
For  mending  a  Chest  in  ye  Church 
For  2  Common  Prayer  Books 
For     Churchwarden's       Fees     and 

Expenses  at  ye  Visitation 


£11 
BY  MAJOR  ASH— Viz., 
To  Wm,  Anderson,  for  G  bottles  of 

Wine  at  2  Sacraments  £0 

For  Biead  for  ye  Sacrament  0 

To  James  Hayes  for  Glazing  i 

To  Thos.  Cornwall  for  Pointing,  etc.  0 
To  Con  O'Neill  for  Carpenters  Work  0 
To  Mr.  Palmer  for  a  1000  of  Shingles  i 
For  1200  of  Nails  0 

For    4    Bottles    of    Wine    for     ye 

Sacrament  0 

For  Bread  0 

For       Churchwardens       Fees     and 

Expenses  0 

To   the   Sexton— a     year's     Salary, 

ending  the  i4  April,  ili8  i 


J2  2  0 

0  13  0 

0  3  0 

0  2  0 


0  4 

2  8 

3  0 
iG  0 

5  0 


7  G 

0  8 

9  5 

6  iO 

2  G 

iO  0 

G  0 

4  8 
0  3 

5  0 
0  0 


By   Major   Ash 
,,  Capt.  Watson 


Less 


£5    i2  10 


iG  i8 
i3  00 


Remaining  03  i8     5 

And  it  was  resolved  that  "the  amount 
expended  over  and  above  the  cess  for  the 
year,  1717,  was  to  be  paid  out  of  ye  cess  for 
year  ending   i7i8. 

There  is  a  memorandum  in  the  year,  1717, 
that  the  Rev.  Thomas  Ashcnden,  then 
rector  of  Loughgall,  and  who  had  been 
rector  of  Magherafelt  in  the  year,  1G85,  had 
bestowed  the  Silver  Chalice'  and  Patin  to 
the  Church.  The  Patin  is  still  in  use  in 
St.  Swithin's  Church.  In  1718  the  sexton's 
salary  was  increased  to  £2,  and  in  1719 
there  was  a     further    addition  to    it  of     ten 


shillings,  at  which  it  remained  till  1798, 
when  there  was  a  further  increase  to  £3  10s. 
The  Sexton  in  1757  was  "John  Devlin,  and  the 
last  Sexton  of  the  Church  was  a  David 
Devlin,  a  descendant  of  John  Devlin.  From 
this  it  would  seem  that  the  office  had  been 
retained  by  the  family.  In  the  year  1719  the 
Rev.  T.  Warburton  was  authorised  to  lay  out 
what  poor  money  he  had  in  his  hands  towards 
buying  a  Pall  and  Mort  Cloth,  which  was  to 
be  hired  out  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor. 

The  Pall  or  Mort  Cloth  must  have  been  well 
cared  for,  as  it  evidently  did  duty  for  almost 
100  years.  In  18U0  a  resolution 'was  passed 
ordering  one  of  good  quality  to  be  purchased 
for  use  of  the  Parish,  and  to  be  kept  by  the 
Acting  Churchwardens,  with  directions  that  it 
was  not  to  be  sent  out  of  the  Parish.  Every 
parishioner  was  to  pay  fivepence  each  time 
they  required  it,  the  proceeds  to  be  devoted 
to  the  burying  of  the  dead  of  thoso  not  ablo 
t»  do  th«  like. 

The  entries  in  the  Old  Vestry  Book  are 
generally  of  a  similar  nature,  such  as  the 
amounts  assessed  for  Sexton's  salary,  pro- 
viding wine,  etc.,  for  Holy  Communion, 
expenses  of  Churchwardens  attending  visi- 
tation, and  for  the  cleaning  and  upkeep  of  the 
Church.  These  were  added  to  as  occasion 
required.  The  following  are  some  examples: 
1724.  40s.  ordered  to  be  levied  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  child  left  upon  the  Parish. 

1737.  That  permission  be  given  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Staples,  rector,  to  make  a  road  or 
avenue  through  the  west  end  of  the  Grave- 
yard, from  the  Glebo  to  the  Town.  (Presum- 
ably this  is  the  present  Avenue  to  the 
Rectory.) 

1738.  That  the  shingles  to  be  delivered 
for  use  of  the  Church  be  viewed  and  valued 
by  a.  Carpenter,  who  shall  be  sworn  to  do 
justice. 

1739.  Ordered  that  the  Churchwardens 
within  ten  days  exhibit  their  accounts  to 
Robert  Rainey  and  Wm.  M'Gown.  Other- 
wise to  be  prosecuted  at  next  visitation. 

174G.  And  whereas  the  dues  of  the  Parish 
Clerk  have  for  somo  time  past  been  very  ill 
paid,  and  for  the  preventing  thereof  for  the 
future,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  by  the 
Parishioners,  in  this  present  Vestry  assem- 
bled, that  fourpence  be  applotted  upon  and 
levied  off  each  family  in  the  parish  yearly 
by  the  Churchwardens  or  Constable  for  the 
time  being,  to  be  collected  together  with  the 
Parish  rate  or  cess,  and  by  them  paid  to  the  ■ 
Parish  Clerk. 

174G.  Ordered  that  Robert  Rainey  and 
John  Downing  do  enquire  and  have  proper 
satisfaction  given  them  how  the  sum  of  £50 
allowed  to  Sir  Thomas  Webster  and  James 
Rankin  was  expended,  ami  how  the  £30 
levied  off  the  Parish  for  use  of  the  Steeple 
was  applied. 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


1758.  £3  applotted  and  levied  oif  the 
Parish  for  support  of  an  exposed  infant,  and 
that  it  he  admitted  into  the  Foundling 
Hospital  in  Duhln. 

Ordered  that  £20  be  assessed  and  levied 
in  gales  of  £5  a  year,  till  it  was  so  levied,  for 
the  purpose  of  completing  and  finishing 
Steeple  and  Spire. 

1761.  Agreed  that.  Robert  Burrows, 
Dunarnon,  who  was  Churchwarden  for  year 
1759,  having  neglected  or  refused  to  settle 
his  accounts,  to  be  forthwith  sued  in  the  most 
speedy  and  effectual  manner,  and  the 
expenses  to  be  defrayed  out  of  the  cess.  (The 
result  of  the  action  taken  agaiust  hiin  docs^ 
not  appear  in  the  minutes.)  ) 

1770.  £30  to  be  applotted  for  new  seat- 
ing Church  from  pulpit  to  west  gable,  divided 
into  £10  for  three  years. 

1779.  Ordered  that  the  Churchwardens 
borrow  a  sum  sufficient  to  defray  expenses  of 
slating  and  repairing  roof  of  Church  that 
summer. 

1790.  £4  to  be  levied  for  making  a  road 
and  pipe  from  the  main  street  to  Church 
gate. 

1799.  It  is  determined  by  this  Vestry  that 
the  seat  formerly  built  and  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Mary  Dawson,  being  purchased  by  Mr.  John 
Hagan  and  Mr.  David  Jennings  from  the 
heirs  of  Mary  Dawson,  be  now  given  to  the 
said  John  Hagan  and  David  Jennings  as  their 
property. 

1800.  £20  to  be  assessed  to  provide  meal 
for  the  poor. 

Resolved  that  the  Rector,  Curate, 
Churchwardens  and  the  following,  viz.— John 
Hill,  John  Smyth,  Thomas  Pollock  and  James 
Walsh,  be  a  committee  to  select  and  badge 
the  poor  of  the  said  Parish;  said  committee 
to  meet  in  David  Jennings'  house  on  14th 
November.  (In  a  number  of  Parishes  a  badge 
was  purchased  and  given  to  each  of  the 
poor,  but  whether  this  was  done  in  respect  of 
the  poor  of  this  Parish  is  not  mentioned  in 
the  minutes.) 

In  the  same  year  £1  16s  3Jd  was  incurred 
in  sending  a  foundling  to  Dublin. 

1808.  Ordered  that  the  Sexton  ring  the 
Church  bell  every  morning  at  G  o'clock  for 
the  spaco  of  5  minutes. 

1809.  Ordered  that  a  sum  of  £21  14s  8d 
be  assessed  for  cost  of  gate  at  graveyard. 
(This  is  tho  gate  at  present  in  use  on  the  old 
graveyard— the  date  1809  being  plainly  visible 
on  it.) 

1817.  £5  assessed  to  provide  coflins  for 
tho  poor. 


From  other  entries  in  the  Minute  Book, 
it  would  appear  that  those  who  were  able  to 
provide  sittings  in  the  Church  for  themselves 
and  their  families,  got  permission  to  do  so. 
For  the  year  17G7  there  is  an  entry  "That 
John  Downing,  of  Ballymoghan,  be  given 
liberty  to  erect  a  seat  in  any  part  of  vacant 
ground  in  the  Church  for  himself  and 
family,  and  in  1780  there  is  a  further  entry 
"That  G  feet  2  inches  of  ground  on  right  side 
of  door  be  given  to  Richard  Dawson  to 
build  a  seat,  to  be  finished  before  next 
Easter,";  and  in  case  of  failure  to  complete  it 
within  that  time,  he  was  to  lose  the  ground. 
At  the  same  meeting  it  was  agreed  that  tho 
Poors  Seat,  under  the  gallery,  be  given  to 
James  and  Hugh  Nogher,  and  Edward 
Marlin,  provided  they  built  a  seat  for  the 
poor  before  next  Easter.  In  a  number  of 
instances  the  time  specified  for  building  seats 
was  extended,  and  in  one  instance,  for  non- 
compliance, the  permission   was   withdrawn. 

It  appears  that  the  seats  were  of  the  old 
boxed  type,  and  the  doors  were  bolted  on  the 
inside  to  prevent  strangers  from  entering, 
and  they  were  so  high  that  the  youthful 
occupants  had  to  stand  on  tip-toe  in  order  to 
see  the  School  Children,  who  were  seated  on 
forms  in  the  aisle.  It  was  no  uncommon 
sight  for  the  sexton,  during  the  service,  to 
pass  up  and  down  the  aisle  correcting  tho 
childrcns'  seeming  irreverence  by  pulling 
their  ears,  and  needless  to  say  this  caused 
great   amusement. 

It  must  have  been  the  custom  to  bury 
people  of  note  in  the  Church,  as  there  are 
several  entries  under  the  heading  of 
deaths — "buried  in  Church,"  and  "buried  in 
Graveyard."  From  all  inquiries  that  could 
be  made,  it  would  seem  that  it  evidently  was 
the  practice  to  bury  people  in  the  space 
under  the  seat.  And  in  confirmation  of  this 
a  number  of  years  ago,  when  an  application 
was  made  to  the  Board  of  Guardian's  for 
permission  to  bury  certain  persons  in  tho 
spaco  inside  the  ruins,  bones  were  dug  up, 
thus  proving  that  the  space  had  been  utilized 
previously. 

In  1828,  it  was  agreed  that  the  sum  of 
£450  shall  be  paid  as  the  annual  composition 
under  4th,  Geo.  4th,  chap.,  99,  for  all  the 
Tithes  payable  out  of  the  Parish  of  Magheia- 
felt. 

The  musical  portion  of  tho  service  seemed 
to  be  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Clerk,  who  was 
paid  annually  for  it.  In  1798  there  is  an 
entry  that  "£5  be  assessed  on  tho  Parish  fur 
the  purpose  of  enabling  Samuel  Graham  to 
attend  and  do  the  business  of  singing."  That 
sum  appears  to  have  been  paid  annually  till 
1832,  when  a  voluntary  choir  was  organised. 
In  the  year  1833  a  new  gallery  for  use  of  tho 
singers  was  erected,  the  expenses  being 
borne  by    the  Marquis  of    Londonderry,     Sir 


THE  OLD  PARISH  CHURCH. 


39 


Thomaa  Bateson,  Rev.  T.  Vesev  (rector), 
Andrew  Spotswood,  G.  W.  Blathwayt,  D. 
Chambers,  Josiali  Bryan,  Robert  Evans,  John 
Lawrence,  Henderson  Boyle,  Wm.  Gaussen, 
David  Duncan,  John  Hull,  Homy  Richard- 
son, Arthur  Dawson,  Miss  Ash,  Miss 
M'Collum,  Mrs.  Hughes,  and  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son, all  of  Magherafelt. 

The  applotting  and  collection  of  the  Cess 
was  delegated  by  the  Vestry  to  certain 
persons  each  year,  for  which  remuneration 
was  given.  Up  to  1740  it  would  appear  that 
this  work  had  been  done  gratuitously.  In 
1741  10s  was  allowed  to  Ezekiel  Richardson, 
of  Magherafelt,  for  applotting  the  Cess.  He 
evidently  held  the  office  for  a  number  of 
yoars,  and  the  work  apparently  increased, 
for  his  salary  was  raised  to  £8,  and  subse- 
quently to  £10.  He  was  succeeded  by  a  John 
Devlin.  As  is  generally  known — or  should 
bo — this  duty  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
County  Council,  having  been  transferred  to 
them  on  the  passing  of  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Act,  1898,  from  the  Grand  Jury. 

In  the  latter  years  of  the  reign  of  George 
the  Third  an  Act  was  passed  imposing  on  the 
vestries  the  appointment  of  Officers  of 
Health.  The  Vestry  of  that  time  seemingly 
did  not  consider  it  a  matter  of  importance, 
as  no  action  was  taken  when  the  Act  was 
passed, (  but  in  1834,  having  received  a 
reminder  in  the  shape  of  a  letter  from  Dublin 
Castle  pointing  out  their  neglect,  they 
appointed  John  Duncan,  Win.  Gaussen  and 
John  Walker,  of  Magherafelt,  and  Wm. 
Graves  and  John  M' Arthur,  of  Castledawson, 
to  the  position.  The  appointment  to  this 
office  continued  until  the  Public  Health  Act 
was  passed,  which  transferred  tho  duties  to 
the  Boards  of  Guardians,  and  subsequently 
to  tho  District  Council. 

From  time  to  time  necessary  repairs  were 
executed  to  tho  Church.  A  north  aisle  was 
added  in  1718,  and  it  was  ornamented  with  a 
tower  and  spire  in  1790,  the  latter  costing 
£30.  In  1798  £90  was  spent  in  new  seating 
and  flooring  the  Church.  In  1822  £238  was 
spent  in  re-roofing  it,  in  connection  with 
which  a  sum  of  £20  had  been  lodged  in  the 
previous  year  in  Dungannon  Savings  Bank, 
and  in  1836  a  Bum  of  £121  was  also  spent  on 
necessary  repairs.  Subsequently  the  tower 
began  to  give  way,  and  in  1855  permission 
was  granted  to  the  taking  down  of  the  spire 
for  tho  purpose  of  having  the  tower  made 
secure.  The  work  of  taking  the  spire  down 
was  proceeded  with,  and  in  order  to  secure 
that  it  would  be  replaced  in  as  nearly  as 
possible  the  same  shape,  when  the 
tower  was  repaired,  each  stone,  when 
being  removed  was  numbered.     However  the 


task  of  replacing  the  spire  was  not  under- 
taken, thanks  to  the  successful  exertions 
of  the  then  rector,  Rev.  Charles  King 
Irwin  (father  of  the  late  Venerablo 
Archdeacon  Irwin,  Armagh),  who  brought 
before  the  Salters'  Company  the  great  neces- 
sity of  having  a  new  Church  erected.  They 
came  into  possession  of  their  Estates  in  May, 
1855 — the  lease  to  Lord  Londonderry  and 
Sir  Thomas  Bateson  having  expired.  The 
Salters'  Company  took  a  deep  interest  in  tho 
matter  and  promised  to  support  the  Rev. 
Charles  King  Irwin  and  the  Select  Vestry  in 
their  undertaking. 

The  last  service  was  held  in  the  Old  Church 
pn  Easter  Day,  4th  April,  1858. 

After  being  unroofed,  the  Church 
Temporality  Commissioners  had  charge  of  it, 
and  in  1879  it  and  the  graveyard  was  vested 
by  them  in  the  Board  of  Guardians,  and  sub- 
sequently in  the  District  Council.  The  tower 
is  in  anything  but  a  safe  state,  and  if  it 
collapsed  would  do  considerable  damage. 
Something  should  be  done  to  preservo  one  of 
tho  very  ancient  monuments. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  sucession  of 
Clergy  in  connection  with  the  Old  Church: — 

Year.  RECTORS. 

142-5.  Malachy  O'Mulchallyn. 

1425.  Neal  O'Corre,  Sept.  27. 

1440.  Wm.   O'Duigvn. 

1534.  Seneskyn  M'Dowyn  or  M'Dvo/n. 

1537.  Toroletus  Idondgalve. 

1616.  Ezekial  Smith,   M.A. 

1633.  Joseph  Synge. 

1635.  Michael  Matchett.     (Ho     was  put   to 

death  during  the  1641  Rebellion.) 

1657.  Samuel  Maher. 

1663.  Richard  Wheelwright,  M.A.,  May  21. 

1669.  Andrew  Law,  April  29. 

1680.  Patrick  Davison,  April  10;   died  1685. 

1685.  Thomas  Ashenden,   June  23. 

1686.  Thomas  Lawson,  July  12. 
1716.  Thomas  Warburton,  Jany.  23. 
1736.  Thomas  Staples,  M.A.,  August  4. 
1738.  James  Richardson,  April  29. 
1771.  Alexander  Orr,  December  12. 
1773.  Henry  Barnard,  April  7. 

1792.     Thomas  Torrcns,  May  7. 

1797.     John  Orr,  B.A.,  T.C.D.,  May  23. 

1807.     Thomas     Agmondisham     Vesev,   B.A., 

T.C.D.,  January  31. 
1844.     Charles  King  Irwin,  M.A.,  Oct.  29. 

CITRATES. 
1633.     Michael  Matchett -afterwards   rector. 
1708.     Alexander  Lawson. 
1829.     Thomas  Twigg. 
1849.     Samuel  Twigg. 


THE  NEW  PARISH  CHURCH. 


The  Company  offered  <i  site  for  the  now- 
church,  which,  was  accepted  by  the  Vestry  as 
per  the  following  minute: — "1st  May,  1855, 
"Rev.  Charles  King-Irwin  in  the  chair-  It  was 
"proposed  by  Andrew  Spotsuood,  Esq.,  .1.1'., 
"and  seconded  by  Mr.  Samuel  Derby, and  voted 
"unanimously :— 'That  the  plot  of  ground 
"adjoining  "Widow  Sarah  Badger's  house,  at 
"tho  end  of  Castledawson  Street,  having  been 
"granted  by  Tho  Worshipful  Suiters'  Com- 
"pany,  bo  accepted  as  the  site  of  the  new 
"Parish  Church  of  Magherafelt.'—  Charles 
"King-Irwin,  rector;  Oliver  Richardson, 
"William  John  Garvin,  churchwardens; 
"A.  Spotswood,  Samuel  Derby,  Randal  York, 
"David  Chesney." 

Tho  necessary  preliminary  arrangements 
having  boon  completed,  the  contract  for  tho 
erection  of  the  new  Church  was  secured  by 
Messrs.  Hugh  Henry  and  Son,  Belfast  (whoso 
successors  are  James  Henry  and  Sons, 
Crumlin  Road,  Belfast),  and  on  the  28th 
March,  1856,  Mr.  James  Henry,  of  that  firm, 
commenced  to  open  the  ground  for  the 
foundations.  In  these  were  sunk  upwards  of 
ono  thousand  tons  of  massive  stories  before 
tho  commencement  of  "neat  masonry,"  which 
took  place  on  tho  3rd  May,  1850. 

The  foundation  stone  was  laid  by  tho  Rev. 
Charles  King-Irwin  on  15th  July,  1850  (St. 
Swithin's  Day)  According  to  the  entry  in  the 
Vestry  Minute  Book,  a  hole  was  excavated  in 
tho  foundation  stone,  in  which  was  deposited 
a  bottle  containing  a  newspaper  of  the  day, 
several  coins  of  Queen  Victoria,  and  a  parch- 
ment scroll  with  the  following  inscription : — 
"Of  this  Church,  to  be  erected  for  the 
"accommodation  of  tho  inhabitants  of  tho 
"Parish  of  Magherafelt,  and  dedicated  to  the 
"Worship  of  Almighty  God  by  tho  name  of 
"St.  Swithin's  Church,  this  principal  stone 
"of  tho  north-east  column  was  laid  on  St. 
"Swithin's  Day,  July  15,  185G,  by  Rev. 
"Charles  King-Irwin,  Incumbent  of  tho 
"Parish  of  Magherafelt,  in  presence  of  tho 
"Master,  Wardens  and  Clerk  of  The  Worship- 
"ful  Salters'  Company  of  London,  who,  in 
"addition  to  the  free  gift  of  an  acre  of  land 
"for  a  site,  have  munificently  contributed 
"£4,000  to  the  cost  of  the  building— Master, 
"Charles  Chancellor,  Esq.;  wardens,  Edward 
"Upton,  Esq. ;  Arthur  Stephen  Hill,  Esq. ; 
"clork,  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.;  curate,  Rev. 
"Samuel  Twigg  ;  churchwardens,  Mr.  Samuel 
"Derby,  Mr.  William  Nodwell  ;  architect, 
"Joseph  Welland,  Esq.:  builders,  Messrs. 
"Hugh  Henry  and  Son." 

The  Belfast  News-Letter  of  the  17th  July, 
1856,  gives  tho  following    description    of    the 


proceedings :— "The  thriving  little  town  of 
"Magherafelt,  on  the  Salters'  Estate  in  Co. 
^'Derry,  was  on  Tuesday  last  the  sceno  of  a 
highly  interesting  ceremony— viz.,  the 
paying  of  tho  'first  stone,'  as  it  is  called,  of 
St.  Swithin's  Church.  The  work  was  com- 
menced some  months  ago,  but  the  ceremony 
had  been  delayed  for  the  arrival  of  the 
deputation  of  the  Worshipful  Company  of 
Saltera,  whoso  liberality  supplied  the  largest 
.portion  of  tho  cost.  Tho  base  of  one  of  the 
^columns  which  will  separate  the  nave  from 
"tho  side  aisles  was  reserved  to  represent 
fthe  first  stone.'  Around  the  site  of  this 
^column  a  commodious  platform  was 
'arranged  by  the  forethought  of  Messrs. 
Henry  and  Sons,  contractors,  and  in  the 
"centre  was  erected  'Shears,'  from  which  tho 
'  massive  block  of  stone  was  suspended— 
"ready  to  be  lowered  upon  its  bed  at  the 
"proper  moment.  At  half  past  twelve  the 
"platform  was  filled  with  a  brilliant  assem- 
blage of  the  rank  and  fashion  of  tho  neigh- 
"bourhood,  and  around  tho  "Shears"  were 
"grouped  tho  workmen.  The  business  of  tho 
"day  was  commenced  by  tho  Incumbent,  Rev. 
"Charles  King-Irwin,  who  delivered  a  short 
"but  pertinent  address,  after  which  descend- 
ing to  the  stone,  ho  was  presented  by  Mr. 
"James  Henry  with  a  costly  silver  trowel  of 
"beautiful  workmanship,  having  on  one  side 
J"  his  arnionial  bearings,  and  on  the  other  a 
"suitable  inscription.  Mr.  Irwin  first 
"deposited  in  a  cavity  which  had  been  pre- 
"pared  for  its  reception,  a  glass  vase  con- 
"taining  a  scroll  inscribed  with  tho  name, 
''date,  and  various  other  particulars  of  tho 
"Church,  a  newspaper  of  the  day,  and  several 
"contemporary  coins,  proceeded  to  read  tho 
"usual  prayers  ;  after  which,  spreading  tho 
''mortar  and  regulating  the  descent  of  tho 
"stono  to  its  resting-place,  he  adjusted  tho 
"lends,  etc.,  in  a  workmanlike  manner,  and 
"striking  it  thrice  with  the  mallet,  declared 
"the  stone  to  be  well  and  duly  laid.  The 
"Benediction  having  been  pronounced,  tho 
"meeting  was  addressed  by  Charles 
"Chancellor,  Esq.,  the  Worshipful  Master  of 
"the  Salters'  Company,  at  the  conclusion  of 
"which  the  'Elite'  of  the  Assembly  adjourned 
"to  'Glenbrook,'  tho  temporary  residence  of 
"the  deputation  (kindly  lent  by  the  Cassidi 
"family),  whose  hospitality  had  provided  a 
"sumptuous  'dejenuer.'  The  Church,- 
"designed  by  that  eminent  architect,  Joseph 
"Welland,  Esq.,  is  to  be  decorated  in  the 
"fourteenth  century  style,  consists  of  nave, 
"side  aisles  and  chancel,  with  robing  and 
"organ  chambers.  The  materials  are  the 
"fine  black  basalts  of  the  neighbourhood  with 
"dressings  of  a  pure   white     freestone     from 


REV.  CHAS.  KING-1RAYIN,  M.A. 


1 


* 


•    .... 


m    i 


Mi  -Mi 


lUOV.  JAMES  HOGAN,  M.A. 


REV.  G-  W.  LINDSAY,  M.A 


REV.  THOMAS  JORDAN,  D.D. 


mi  i  * 


.       :■■-<:- 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


REV.  GEO-  GILLESPIE,  M.A; 


THE  NEW  PAR  ISH  CHURCH. 


41 


"Scotland.     When     completed  it  promises  to 
"be  the  ecclesiastical  gem  of  Ulster." 

Amongst  those  present  in  addition  to  those 
already  mentioned  were  Andrew  Spotswood 
and  family,  Millbrook  ;  Mrs.  Irwin  and  the 
Misses  Irwin,  Rectory  ;  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Vesey, 
Rev.  Samuel  Twigg  and  family,  Mr.  W.  A. 
Gaussen  (father  of  Mr.  A.  D.  A.  Gaussen, 
J. P.)  and  the  Misses  Gaussen,  Lake  View, 
Ballyronan  ;  Mr.  Wm.  Gaussen,  Magheraf elt : 
Mr.  Win.  M.  Gaussen,  Lake  Lodge,  Bally- 
ronan; Mr.  John  Lawrence  and  Mis. 
Lawrence,  Rev.  J.  J.  Jackson  and  the 
Misses  Jackson,  Ballinderry ;  Rev.  George 
Greer  and  Mrs.  Greer,  Woods  Chapel ;  The 
Messrs.  Gilmore,  Messrs.  Ash,  ('.  K.  Irwin 
(tho  late  Venerable  Archdeacon  of  Armagh), 
Mrs.  Graves  and  family,  Graves  End, 
Castledawson ;  Mr.  W.  J.  Walland,  Mr. 
W.  M'Collum,  Mr.  J.  T.  Bryan  and  Mrs. 
Bryan,  Mrs.  Duncan,  James  Duncan,  Mrs. 
Smith,  Rev.  Augustus  Fitzgerald,  D.D., 
Rector  of  Portadown  (afterwards  Dean  of 
Armagh),  etc. 

The  work  of  building  the  Church  continued 
in  a  satisfactory  manner,  ami  early  in  1858 
tho  contractors  brought  their  labours  to  a 
close.  It  was  dedicated  on  tho  7th  April, 
1858,  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Kilmore  (Marcus 
Gervaise  Beresford),  acting  for  the  Lord 
Primate.  The  ceremony  is  described  in  tho 
"Belfast  News-Letter"  of  the  8th  April, 
1858,  as  follows: — Consecration  of  St. 
Swithin's   Church,    Magherafelt— 

"This  beautiful  structure — ono  of  tho 
"happiest  efforts  of  Joseph  Welland,  Esq. — 
"whose  taste  is  fast  creating  what  was  so  long 
"wanted — an  Irish  Ecclesiastical  architecture 
" — was  consecrated  on  Wednesday,  7th  April. 
"1858,  under  certainly  the  most  unfavourable 
"circumstances,  as  far  as  tho  elements  were 
"concerned,  that  could  be  imagined.  The 
"liberality  of  the  Belfast  and  Ballymena 
"Railway  Company  had  offered  facilities  to 
"visitors,  and  notwithstanding  the  incessant 
"rain,  a  congregation  of  close  on  six  hundred 
"people  was  assembled  at  twelve  o'clock  to 
"receive  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Kilmore,  and  a 
"truly  beautiful  sight  presented  itself  to  the 
"spectators  on  entering  the  Church,  which 
"may  be  technically  described  as  of  the  early 
"decorative  style,  consisting  of  nave,  sidu 
"aisles,  transept  and  chancel,  with  the 
"peculiarity  of  a  stately  arch  piercing  the 
"western  tower  which,  surmounted  by  a 
"graceful  spire  rising  to  a  height  of  139  feet, 
"is  fitted  with  sittings  and  made  available 
"to  the  congregation.  The  chancel  is  22  feet, 
"in  width,  paved  with  Minton's  encaustic 
"tiles.  The  entire  length  of  the  building  from 
"east  to  west  being  117  feet  ;  from  north  to 
"south,  between  the  transepts,  the  clear 
"space  is  75  feet,  and  in  the  nave  53  fee:. 
"Tho  whole  interior,  including  the  ricl>- 
"framed  roof,  is  of  open  work,  in  stained  and 


"varnished  deal.  The  seats  are  open  stalls, 
"with  carved  finials,  and  afford  650  com- 
"modious  sittings.  The  windows  are  of 
"gracoful  gothic  character  and  rich  tracery, 
''and  are  filled  with  stained  glass  by  Ward,  of 
"London;  and  a  magnificient  organ  of  great 
"power  and  sweetness  of  tone  has  been 
''erected  by  the  eminent  house  of  Robson,  of 
"St.  Martin's  Lane,  London.  Fully  one  half 
"of  the  cost  of  this  beautiful  Church  has 
'^been  defrayed  by  the  Worshipful  Salters' 
"Company  of  London.  The  greatest  credit  is 
"due  to  the  execution  of  the  work  by  thosx 
"well-known  contractors,  Messrs.  Henry  and 
"Son,  who  have  carried  out  tho  various 
"details  with  that  carefulness  and  integrity 
."which  have  obtained  for  them  such  high 
"reputation  in  this  branch  of  their  profession. 
"Precisely  at  12  o'clock  The  Lord  Bishop  of 
"Kilmore,  attended  by  the  Rev.  James  Jones, 
"and  Rev.  Alexr.  Irwin  arrived,  and  was 
"received  at  the  stately  north-western 
"porch  by  the  rector,  Rev.  Charles  King- 
"Irwin,  and  a  number  of  other  clergy.  The 
"24th  Psalm  having  beeji  recited  by  the 
"Bishop  and  tho  clergy  in  procession,  the 
"Consecration  Service  was  performed,  con- 
"<  hiding  with  a  most  excellent  and  appro- 
"priate  sermon  by  The  Right  Rev.  Preacher. 
"The  whole  ceremonial  was  truly  interesting, 
and  was  signalized  by  the  presence  aiui 
"sympathy  of  persons  of  all  religious 
"denominations  in  the  neighbourhood. 
"Among  the  many  advantages  which  tho 
"improving  to\vn  of  Magherafelt  mav  trace  to 
"the  fostering  care  of  its  liberal  landlords, 
"there  may  now  be  reckoned  one  of  the  most 
"beautiful  churches  in  Ireland,  faultless  in 
"its  architecture  and  correct  in  all  its 
"ecclesiastical    details." 

The  congregation  at  the  service  numbered 
560,  and  the  following  Sunday  614  attended. 

Tho  vestry  and  parishioners  held  a  special 
meeting  in  the  Church  on  the  19th  April, 
1858,  when  resolutions  were  passed  expres- 
sive of  their  grateful  sense  of  the  liberality 
of  the  Salters'  Company  in  contributing  not 
only  land  for  the  site  or  the  Church,  but  also 
their  munificent  donation  towards  its  erec- 
tion, and  in  a  letter  dated  17th  May,  1858, 
the  then  clerk  of  the  Company  (Edward 
Thompson,  Esq.),  in  acknowledging  receipt  of 
die  resolutions  wrote — "The  Court  of  Assist- 
ants have  received  tho  testimony  of  good 
"feeling  with  much  satisfaction,  and  they 
"trust  that  the  inhabitants  of  Magherafelt 
"will  for  many  years  to  come,  derive  all  thoso 
"important  benefits  from  the  services  in  the 
"sacred  edifice  which  they  had  in  view,  in 
"promoting  its  erection,  induced  thereby  by 
"deep  reverence  towards  God  and  due  regard 
"to  the  Protestant     Religion." 

The  windows,  21  in  number,  were  supplied 
by  Messrs.  Ward  and  Hughes,  of  London, 
and  cost  £370.       Three  of  the  windows  in  tho 


42 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


western  gable  contain  coats-of-arms  of 
Radulphus  Whistler,  1620  (lessee  of  the 
Salters  Company);  Rev.  Thomas  Warbcrton, 
Rector  from  1717  to  1736;  Rev.  J.  Richard- 
son, Rector  from  1738  to  1772 ;  Rev.  T. 
Torrens,  Rector  from  1793  to  1880;  Rev.  T. 
Agmon  Vesey,  Rector  from  1807  to  184-1; 
Rev.  Charles  King-Irwin,  Ret  cor  from  1844 
to  1861  ;  The  Worshipful  Salters'  Company  ; 
Sir  Robert  Bateson,  Belvoir  Park,  Belfast, 
who  was  Co-Lessee  with  the  Marquis  of 
Londonderry  of  the  Salters'  Estate.  Hender- 
son, Graves,  of  Gravesend,  Castledawson,  and 
Augustus  Shiel,  Castledawson,  landlords  in 
the  Parish,  and  Andrew  Spotswood,  J. P., 
then  agent  of  the  Salters'  Company. 

The  bell  was  procured  from  Mr.  Thomas 
Hodgers,  Dublin,  and  was  hung  on  the  2nd 
January,  1858.  It  was  first  tolled  for  the 
funeral  of  Samuel  M'DoweH,  the  only  work- 
man engaged  at  the  building,  who  died  during 
the  progress  of  the  work. 

The  five  minutes'  bell  at  present  in  use  was 
the  one  last  used  in  tho  old  church,  and  cost 
£10  in  1788. 

The  organ,  which  was  built  by  Messrs. 
Robson,  St.  Martin's  Lane,  London,  cost 
£200,  and  was  erected  in  1858.  During  the 
Incumbency  of  the  Rev.  James  Hogan,  the 
organ  was  considered  insufficient  for  the  size 
of  the  Church,  and  in  1866  an  addition  was 
made  to  it,  which  cost  £168  12s  6d.  This 
addition  was  suggested  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Hogan 
(Rev.  F.  W.  Hogan,  M.A.,  until  recently 
Rector  of  All  Saints'  Church, 

Eglantine),  who  raised  the  amount,  and 
Mr.  M'Combe,  of  Belfast,  carried  out 
the  work.  The  musical  abilities  of  the 
Hogan  Family  are  widely  known.  The 
choir  in  connection  with  St.  Swithin's 
Church,  trained  by  them,  was  considered  by 
many  good  judges  to  bo — at  that  period — 
the  finest  in  Ulster,  and  many  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  at  the  present  day  have 
pleasant  recollections  of  the  musical  treats 
given  by  this  Family  on  tho  lawn  in  front  of 
the  Rectory  during  the  long  summer  evenings. 

The  first  organist  was  Mr.  W.  B.  Charters 
(father  of  the  writer  of  "Wanderers  Football 
Notes,"  which  appear  weekly  in  the  Belfast 
"Evening  Telegraph.")  He  held  the  position 
till  January,  1855.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
J.  A.  Phillips,  who  occupied  the  post  for  a 
short  time  only.  Miss  Smyth,  of  Derry,  was 
the  next  holder  of  tho  office,  from  1885  till 
1894.  She  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Chapman 
(afterwards  Mrs.  Foy),  who  held  tho  position 
till  1897,  when  Miss  Barber,  tho  present 
organist,   was  appointed. 

The  first  sexton  was  Thomas  Hudson,  who 
was  appointed  on  the  19th  March,  1858.  In 
addition  to  his  ordinary  duties  as  sexton,  he 
undertook  to  ring  tho  largo  bell  of  the 
Church  for  ten  minutes  at  six  o'clock  in  the 


morning  and  nine  o'clock  at  night,  from  tho 
1st  March  till  1st  November,  and  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  eight  o'clock  at 
night  from  the  1st  November  till  1st  March. 
This  custom  has  long  since  ceased.  Hudson 
died  in  1895,  when  the  present  sexton  (Win. 
John  M'Cart)  was  appointed. 

The  first  marriage  celebrated  in  the  Church 
took  place  on  tho  20th  May,  1858,  between 
Hugh  Nimmins,  of  Randalstown,  described  as 
a  gold  miner,  and  Mary  Ann  Maguire,  of 
Castledawson. 

The  first  child  baptised  was  Alexander,  son 
of  William  and  Jane  Dunbar,  of  Magherafelt, 
on  11th  April,  1858, 

The  first  interment  in  tho  now  grave- 
yard was  that  of  Lydia,  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  Gaussen,  of  Magherafelt,  on  tho  6th 
July,  1863. 

The  Bible  and  Service  Books  cost  £14  16s, 
and  were  purchased  in  1858,  and  in  1861  the 
Rev.  C.  K.  Irwin  presented  tho  Silver  Flagon 
now  in  use,  and  which  cost  £21.  In  the 
latter  end  of  1861  ho  was  appointed  Rector  of 
Loughgall,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  Rector- 
ship of  Magherafelt  by  the  Rev.  James 
Hogan,  who  continued  *  till  1878.  It  was 
during  his  incumbency  that  Mr.  Gladstone's 
Act  disestablishing  the  Church  was  passed, 
and  tho  principal  work  of  carrying  out  the 
necessary  reforms  in  Church  government 
in  this  Parish  fell  on  his  shoulders.  Up  till 
1869  Select  Vesterios  were  non-existent— 
they  being  brought  into  being  after  tho  pass- 
ing of  Act  just  referred  to.  On  the  6th 
June,  1870,  the  first  Select  Vestry  of  the 
Parish  was  appointed,  and  comprised  tho 
following:— H.  E.  Cartwright,  J. P.;  Dr. 
John  Stuart  Vesey,  H.  E.  Kincaid,  Robert 
Hanna,  Robert  Duncan,  Matthew  Nod  well, 
John  Garvin,  jun.;  William  Doherty,  T.  C. 
Monteith,  Wm.  Lennox,  Horace  T.  Gaussen, 
and  Randal  York.  Of  these  only  one  is  now 
living — viz.,  Mr.  H.  T.  Gaussen,  who  at  pre- 
sent resides  in  Portstewart.  The  first 
Parochial  Nominators  were  Colonel  Cassidi, 
H.  E.  Cartwright,  J. P.,  and  Samuel  Derby; 
diocesan  synodsmen,  Colonel  Cassidi  and 
John  Garvin ;  parochial  treasurer,  Colonel 
Cassidi,  and  hon.  secretary  of  select  vestry, 
Robert  Duncan. 

The  Bier  at  present  in  use  was  presented  by 
the  Rev.  James  Hogan  in  1874,  and  in  1877 
ho  induced  tho  Salters'  Company  to  mako  a 
gift  of  the  clock  to  the  Church,  which  was 
supplied  and  erected  in  that  year  by  the  late 
Mr.  Brieo  Galway,  sen.,  Magherafelt,  at  ga 
cost  of  £105.  So  great  a  benefit  has  the  clock 
been  to  tho  townspeople,  that  in  1902,  through 
Mr.  J.  H.  Crawford's  influence,  an  annual 
subscription  of  £1  10s  0d  has  been  given  by 
the  Market  Trustees  to  the  Church- war  dens 
towards  keeping  it  in  order.  It  was  also 
during  the  Rev.  James     Hogan's     rectorship 


THE  NEW  PARISH  CHURCH. 


13 


that  the  present  Rectory  and  lands  were 
purchased  out  at  a  cost  of  £595  16s  (3d.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  entry  in  books  of 
the  Representative  Church  Body  in  reference 
to  the  purchase  : — 
Lodged  bv  Rev.  J.  Hogan  towards 

purchase  of  Glebe  £445    0    0 

Church        Officers'        Composition 

Balance  135  19     1 

Glebe  Rent  Account  Transfer  15  12     0 


Lodged     in     excess — refunded 
Mr.  T.  H.  S.  Taylor 


£590  11     1 
0  14     7 


£595  1G     G 

Of  the  sum  of  £445,  £100  was  borrowed 
from  the  Commissioners  of  Public  "Works. 
The  instalments  of  this  loan  were  paid  by 
the  succeeding  incumbents.  The  debt  has 
been  extinguished  by  the  exertions  of  the 
present  rector,  Rev.  G.  "NY.  Lindsay,  A.M. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  note  that  the 
Rectory  was  built  in  1787  at  a  cost  of 
£574  10s  0d,  of  which  £92  Gs  Id  was  a  gift, 
and  the  remainder  a  loan  from  the  Board  of 
First  Fruits.  It  has  undergone  extensive 
repairs — the  cost  of  which  was  defrayed  out  of 
£329  4s  8d,  realised  bv  a  bazaar  held  in 
Magherafelt  on  the  16th  and  17th  July,  190!). 

The  Rev.  James  Hogan  died  in  October, 
1878,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jordan  was  appointed 
about  December  of  that  year.  He  after- 
wards became  treasurer  of  Armagh 
Cathedral,  a  position  which  ho  held  till  his 
death  in  1908.     During  his  tenure  of  office  the 


old  system  of  heating  the  Church  by  stoves 
was  abolished,  and  tho  present  one — by  hot 
water — was  substituted  in  189G,  at  the"  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  J.  H.  Crawford,  at  a  cost  of 
£123  17s  lOd.  The  late  Mr.  T.  H.  S.  Taylor 
who  was  a  valued  member  of  the  congre- 
gation, in  addition  to  many  acts  of  kindness, 
presonted  the  gas  lamp,  situated  in  the 
Church  walk,  and  by  his  will  left  his 
residence  in  Church  Street  to  the  Rector  and 
his  successors  for  the  benefit  of  the  Parish. 
The  two  cottages  at  the  Rectory  gate,  the 
kitchen  garden  and  the  private  walk  from  the 
R-ectorv  to  the  Church  were  purchased  in 
1886  from  the  Salters'  Co.  for  £100,  and  in 
1903  the  Lectern,  costing  50  guineas,  was 
procured  through  the  kind  exertions  of  Mr. 
*Y\' .  Adamson,  manager  of  the  Northern  Bank. 

The  congregation  are  greatly  indebted  to 
the  late  Dr.  Jordan  for  the  sum  of  £200,  tho 
interest  of  which  goes  towards  the  assessment 
account.  Tho  present  incumbent,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Lindsay,  A.M.,  was  appointed  in  1907,  and 
in  addition  to  having  necessary  alterations 
made  in  tho  Rectory  and  grounds,  the  Church, 
chancel  and  baptistry  have  been  re-tiled,  the 
cost  having  been  obtained  through  his 
exertions  from  the  Berosford  Fund.  A 
magnificent  oak  communion  table  was  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Ernest  Cartright  last  year  in 
memory  of  his  parents,  and  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Cassidi,  Derby,  presented  a  solid  brass  book 
rest  for  the  communion  table.  The  actual 
cost  incurred  in  the  erecting  of  this  beautiful 
Church  is  not  recorded,  but  it  must  have 
amounted   to  between   £8,000  and   £10,000. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


The  advent  of  Presbyterianism  into  the 
North  of  Ireland  dates  practically  from  the 
Plantation  period.  Scotland  was  *  its  home, 
the  Church  being  founded  there  by  John 
Knox,  and  the  first  General  Assembly  was 
held  in  the  year  1560. 

Owing  to  the  Rebellion  of  certain  Irish 
Chieftains,  King  James  I.  embraced  the 
opportunity  to  confiscate  their  lands,  which 
comprised  six  of  the  principal  counties  in 
Ulster,  and  to  plant  them  with  English  and 
Scotch  settlers.  It  is  said  that  the  latter 
only  sparsely  responded,  and  those  who  did 
come  over  were,  at  first,  only  allowed  to 
settle  by  connivance,  as  there  was  on  the 
Statute  Rook  an  «ld  Act  of  Parliament  pro- 
hibiting them  '  from  settling  in  Ireland. 
However,  on  the  revocation  of  that  Act  they 
flocked  over  in  great  numbers,  being  allowed 
fully  to  participate  in  all  the  benefits  of 
citizenship,  and  occupied  largo  portions  of 
Antrim  and  Down,  subsequently  making  their 
way  to  Derry,  Tyrone  and  Donegal.  They, 
naturally,  brought  with  them  their  manners, 
customs,  industrial  habits,  language  and 
religion. 

The  first  Presbyterian  Minister  to  come 
over  from  Scotland  was  the  Rev.  Edward 
Brice  who,  in  1C13  settled  at  Broadisland,  or 
Ballyearry,  situated  between  Carrickfergus 
and  Larne,  and  according  to  the  Rev.  David 
Stewart,  B.A.,  in  "Presbyterian  in  Ireland," 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Established  Church 
by  Echlin,  Bishop  of  Down.  He  enjoyed  the 
tithes,  and  though  preaching  in  "  the 
Established  Church,  he  expounded  Presby- 
terian doctrine  and  conducted  the  service  in 
Presbvterian  form.  It  also  appears  that  the 
Visitation  Book  of  1622  records  that  "Edward 
Brice,  M.A.,  served  the  cures  of  Temple- 
corran  and  Kilroot ;  Church  at  Kilroot 
decayed ;  that  at  Ballyearry  has  the  walls 
newly  erected  but  not  roofed."  And  a 
tradition  had  it  that  Price's  ministrations 
included  also  the  Church  of  Ballykeel,  in 
Islandmagee. 

During  the  Rebellion  of  1641  great 
devastation  was  wrought  amongst  the  Presby- 
terians. A  large  number  were  killed  and  a 
great  many  fled  from  the  country.  This,  to 
Borne  extent  was  compensated  for,  when  a 
Scottish  Army,  in  charge  of  Robert  Monroe, 
was  sent  over  and  landed  in  Carrickfergus  in 
April,  1G42.  And  we  are  told  bv  the  Rev. 
J.  B.  Woodburn,  M.A.,  in  "the  Ulster 
S«ot"  that  the  regiments  which  came  over 
were  accompanied  by  their  chaplains,  that 
the  soldiers  were  Presbyterians,  and  many 
of  the  officers  were  elders,  and  that  two 
months  after  their  arrival  in  Ulster,  thoso 
Chaplains  formed  the  first  regular  Presbytery 
at  Carrickfergus.     It  met  on  the  10th  dune, 


1612,  and  consisted  of  five  Ministers  and  four 
Elders.  Those  Presbyterians  were  further 
augmented  by  a  large  emigration  of 
members  of  their  Faith  from  Scotland,  which 
began  about  1652,  and  continued  for  some 
years,  and  such  progress  was  made  that  in 
1660  there  wero  over  70  Ministers  and  about 
80  congregations  in  Ulster. 

M'Comb,  the  poet  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  wrote  the  following  in  reference  to 
the  bi-centonary  of  the  Church,  which  took 
place  in  1842: 

Two   hunched  years     ago,    thero   came     from 

Scotland's  storied  land, 
To     Carrick's     old      amd      fortress     town,     a 

Presbyterian   band  ; 
They  planted  on  the  Castle  wall  the  Banner 

of  the  Blue  ; 
And     worshipped     Cod     in  ,  simple    form — as 

Presbyterians  do. 
Oh!  hallow'd  be  their    memory,  who  in     our 

land  did  sow, 
The  goodly  seed  of  Gospel  truth,  two  hundred 

years  ago. 
Two  hundred  years  ago    was  heard,  upon  the 

tenth  of  June, 
On  Cameli's  shore,  the     voice  of  prayer,  and 

psalm  with  solemn  tune. 
"Do  goncl  in  Thy    Good    pleasure,  Lord,  unto 

Thy  Zion  here  ; 
The  walls  of  our    Jerusalem,     establish    Thou 

and  rear." 
Thus  prayer  and  praise  were  made  to  God,  nor 

dread  of  popish  foe, 
Dismayed     our    fathers  in    their     work,     two 

hundred  years  ago. 
Two  hundred  years     ago.,  our  Church    i  little 

one  appeared — 
Five  ministers,  and  ciders     four,  the     feeble 

vessel  steer'd. 
But    now     five     hundred    pastors,     and     four 

thousand  elders  stand, 
A  ho>t  of  faithful  witnesses  within  our  native 

land. 
Their     armour     is     the    Spirit's     sword,     and 

onward  as  they  go; 
They  wave  the  ting  their    fathers  waved,  two 

hundred  years  ago. 
Two  hundred  years  ago,  afar  no  Gospel  sound 

was  known,. 
The  heathen  mem,  unheeded  then,  bow'd  down 

to  wood  and  stone; 
But  better     days     have     dawn'd   en     us— our 

missionary  band 
Are     publishing     salvation     now     on    India's 

golden  strand  ; 
And     to     the     sons  of    Abraham,     our     sons 

appointed  go — 
To        Jacob's        race—  rejected — scorned— two 

hundred  years  ago. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


So  far  as  information  can  be  obtained,  it 
appears  that  to  Knockcloughrini  belongs 
the  honour  of  having  the  first  building  which 
served  as  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  this 
district.  It  was  situated  at  the  north  side 
of  the  Hill,  and  the  services  were  first  hold 
about  the  year  1690.  These  were  continued 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  members  of  that 
faith  from  Ballyronan,  Magherafelt,  Castle- 
dawson,  Tobermore  and  Maghera  worshipped 
there.  In  1836  the  walls  of  the  building  were 
still  in  existence.  The  second  Church  was 
erected  in  Maghera  in  1095,  and  the  first 
Communion  service  was  held  in  that  Church 
by  the  Rev.  John  Tomb,  on  the  first  Sabbath 
in  September,  1695  ;  the  second  on  the  3rd 
Sabbatli  in  August,  1696;  the  third  on  the 
28th  August,  1697  ;  the  fourth  on  the  28th . 
August,  1698,  and  the  fifth  on  the  30th  July, 
1699.  In  the  year  1700  Castledawson 
Presbyterian  Church  was  organised  from 
Maghera,  the  first  Communion  being  held  at 
"Dawson's  Bridge,"  as  it  was  then  called, 
by  the  Rev.  John  Tomb,  of  Maghera,  on  the 
6th  August,  1701;  the  second  on  the  9th 
August,  1702;  the  third  one  the  1st  August, 
1703,  and  the  fourth  on  the  2nd  July,  1701. 
Tho  Rev.  John  Tomb  subsequently  left 
Maghera  and  became  the  first  Minister  of 
Castledawson. 

The  Presbyterians  of  Magherafelt,  not 
having  a  Church  of  their  own,  worshipped  in 
Castledawson  till  the  year  1738.  They 
originally  formed  part  of  Moneymore  congre- 
gation, and  in  1692  an  attempt  was  made  to 
have  it  erected  into  a  separate  congregation 
but  it  did  not  succeed.  It  was  then  annexed 
to  Castledawson.  In  1737  Messrs.  Robert 
Rainey  and  Wm,  Johnston  appeared  as 
Commissioners  before  the  Synod,  and  stated 
that  Magherafelt,  being  a  large  town  in 
which  there  were  56  families  of  Dissenters, 
they  ought  to  have  a  place  of  Worship  of 
their  own.  Their  pleading  was  successful, 
and  in  1738  tho  Synod  erected  Magherafelt 
into  a  separate  Congregation,  appointing  tho 
Rev.  Hugh  Wallace  (who  had  been  the 
Minister  of  Castledawson)  as  their  first 
Minister,  and  added  50  families  to  it  which 
fomerly  belonged  to  Moneymore.  The 
Church  in  Magherafelt  was,  it  seems,  erected 
in  1736,  and  there  is  a  tradition  that  they 
demanded  a  share  of  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Hugh  Wallace,  but  tho  Castledawson  people 
would  not  agree.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wallace,  it 
seoms,  wont  to  preach  one  Sabbath  in 
Magherafelt,  and  his  old  congregation  being 
displeased,  ho  removed  altogether  to 
Magherafelt. 

The  first  Session  held  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wallace  took  place  in  February,  1739,  and 
the  members  present  were  Rev.  Hugh 
Wallace.  Robert  Adams,  Matthew  Wilson, 
John  Given,  John  Stitt,  and  John  Buntin. 
Mr.  Wallace  died  in  1761,  and  tho  office  of 
Minister  must  have  remained  vacant  for  some 
time,  for  his  successor,  Rev.  William  Wilson, 


was  not  appointed  till  1765.  Ho  ministered 
till  1785,  when  he  was  called  to  Mary's 
Abbey  in  Dublin,  lie  was  succeeded  by  tho 
Rev.  George  Dougall,  who  was  ordained  in 
May,  1786,  and  he  laboured  there  till  he  died 
in  1810,  leaving  a  widow  and  family,  and  was 
buried  in  the  graveyard  attached  to  tho 
Church.  Another  interval  occurred  (this  time 
lasting  three  years),  as  Rev.  James  Wilson 
was  not  appointed  to  the  oversight  of  the 
Congregation  till  24th  September,  1813. 

In  1828  the  following  were  appointed 
Elders,  the  election  taking  place  on  tho  11th 
May — Allen  Brown,  Magherafelt;  John 
Brown,  Ballynagowan  ;  Job  Palmer,  Roshurc  ; 
John  Porter,  Killyboggin  ;  Andrew  Brooks, 
John  Shannon,  Killyf addy  ;  John  Duncan, 
Tho  Rock,  Killyf  addy;  David  Steele,  Killy- 
faddv  ;  Joseph  Sloss,  Ballvmulderg;  John 
Archer,  BallyrifF;  Hugh  Stinton,  Caraloon, 
and  David  Duncan,  Drumrainey.  Repre- 
sentatives of  tho  majority  of  these  families 
are  still  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Wilson  resided  in  Prospect  House,  Agha- 
gaskin  (now  occupied  by  Mr.  John  Houston), 
and  continued  his  pastorale  in  Magherafelt 
till  his  death  in  1851. 

On  the  death  of  the  Rev.  James  Wilson  in 
1854,  tho  Rev.  Alexander  Montgomery  wa.s 
called  from  Hillsborough  and  installed  in 
September  of  that  year.  At  the  outset  of 
his  ministry  ho  found  the  Church  building  in 
a  very  unsatisfactory  condition.  Its  state  is 
described  in  the  "Terrier,"  issued  by  the 
Salters'  Company  in  1845,  as  follows:— "The 
"Presbyterian  Church  in  the  town  of 
"Magherafelt  is  an  ancient  erection  in  tho 
"street  leading  to  Ballyronan.  It  is  in  a 
"dilapidated  condition,  and  is  in  parts  in  the 
"inside  propped  up."  lie  set  to  work  to  have 
a  new  Church  worthy  of  the  congregation 
provided,  and  with  such  marvellous  results 
that  within  tho  short  space  of  threo  years, 
not  alone  was  a  splendid  Church  erected, 
but  also  a  very  fine  Manse.  His  elforts  were 
most  energetically  supported  by  tho  members 
of  his  congregation,  and  it  must  have  been  a 
joyous  recompense  to  all  concerned  for  the 
time  and  labour  they  had  expended,  to  have 
realized  such  gratifying  results  of  their 
labours. 

The  Church  was  opened  for  Divino  Service 
on  Sunday,  8th  November,  1857.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  copy  of  tho  admission  ticket ; — 

NEW  PRESBTYERIAN  CHURCH, 
MAGHERAFELT, 
will  bo  opened  on     Sabbath,  8th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1857,  by  the  Rev.  John  Macnaughtan, 
A.M.,  Belfast. 

Service  to    commence  at  12    o'clock.     A 
collection  to  aid  in     defraying  the  debt  to 
bo    taken  at  the    close. 
Admision  Ticket — One  Shilling  and  Sixpence. 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


The  "Coleraine  Chronicle"  had  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  service: — "New  Presby- 
"terian  Church,  Magherafelt.  This  hand- 
"some  Church  was  opened  for  public  worship 
"on  Sunday,  8th  November,  1857,  by  the 
"Rev.  John  Macnaughtan,  A.M.,  Belfast. 
"The  Rev.  gentleman,  after  praise,  prayer 
"and  reading  of  Scripture,  selected  as  his 
"text  Acts  4-12,  from  which  ho  preached  a 
"brilliant  and  highly  edifying  discourse  to  a 
"crowded,  respectable  and  most  attentive 
"audience.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service 
"a  collection  was  taken  to  aid  in  defraying 
"tho  debt  still  duo  on  the  building.  The 
"collectors  were: — Captain  Graves,  Captain 
"Gaussen,  R.N.  ;  John  S.  Vesey,  M.D. ; 
"Messrs.  A.  Spotswood,  J. P.;  W.  Hemphill, 
"Thomas  Adair,  J.  T.  Bryan,  William 
"Gaussen,  John  Lawrence,  Wiliam  Glasgow, 
"sen.;  Win.  Gaussen,  W.  M'Intyre,  and  \V. 
"A.  Gaussen.  These  were  assisted  by  the 
"following  members  of  the  Committee  of  tho 
"Congregation  : — Dr.  Shannon,  Messrs.  W. 
"E.  Walker,  H.  Walker,  John  Graham,  J. 
"Duncan,  A.  M'Fall,  and  R.  J.  Barnett. 
"The  amount  realised  at  the  opening  services 
"including  donations  sent  by  friends  who 
"could  not  attend,  was  £220." 

The  contractors  were  the  well-known 
firm  of  Messrs,  Young  and  M'Kcnzio,  Belfast. 
It  is  not  known  exactly  tho  cost  of  building 
the  Church,  but  it  is  recorded  that  the 
Salters'  Company  gavo  a  donation  of  £1,200, 
and  the  congregation  contributed  £1,800. 
Tho  present  Church  stands  about  a  couple  of 
perches  to  the  rere  of  the  site  of  the  old 
building.  During  tho  ministry  of  tho  Rev. 
Alexander  Montgomery,  the  Manse  and 
grounds  were  purchased  free  of  debt  by  the 
congregation  at  a  cost  of  £700.  After  a 
ministry  of  thirty-five  years,  he  died  in 
February,  1889. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  minister, 
tho  Rev.  George  Gillespie,  M.A.,  who  was 
appointed  in  May,  1889.  Sineo  his 
installation,  Musgraves  system  of  heating 
churches  by  hot  water,  was  introduced  in 
1890  at  a  cost  of  £100,  and  in  1902  tho  light- 
ing by  oil  gave  place  to  that  of  acetylene 
gas,  at  a  cost  of  £100. 


Tho  first  sexton  of  tho  present  Church  was 
William  Anderson,  and  the  present  sexton, 
Joseph  Nevin,  has  occupied  the  position  for  a 
lengthened   period. 

The  last  marriage  celebrated  in  the  old 
Church  was  between  Hugh  Robinson, 
Belfast,  and  Mary  Shannon  (daughter  of  Dr. 
Shannon,  Magherafelt);  while  those  who  had 
the  privilege  of  being  the  first  persons  united 
in  marriage  in  the  present  Church  were  John 
Barclay,  Durnascallion,  and  Hessy  Porter, 
Killyboggin. 

The  first  baptism  took  place  on  tho  6th 
December,  1857,  tho  infant  being  Andrew 
Paul,  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza  Jane  Paul,  of 
Ballymoghan. 

Three  of  the  ministers — Rev.  George 
Dougal,  Rev.  Jame9  Wilson,  and  Rev.  A. 
Montgomery,  are  buried  in  tho  graveyard 
attached  to  the  Church. 

Tho  Rev.  Geo.  Gillespie  is  ably  supported 
in  the  work  of  the  congregation  by  Henry 
Browne,  Ballynagowan ;  Robert  Eakin, 
Ballymoghan,  and  John  Haw,  Drumrainey, 
elders;  John  Boden,  J. P.,  who  has  been 
treasurer  of  tho  Sustentation  Fund  for  tho 
past  twonty  years,  and  Alex.  Munroe,  who 
during  the  past  eight  years  has  faithfully 
discharged  the  duties  of  Superintendent  of 
tho  Sabbath  School. 

Jubilee  services  were  held  on  the  17th 
November,  1907,  the  preachers  being: — 
Morning — Rev.  George  Gillespie,  M.A., 
and  evening,  Rev.  Win.  Reid,  Moneymore, 
and   large   congregations   attended. 

It  is  now  178  years  since  this  congregation 
was  organised,  and  Mr.  Gillespie  is  the  sixth 
minister  in  succession.  He  is  also  the  third 
minister  during  a  period  of  more  than  100 
years.  There  are  few  congregations  in  the 
General  Assembly  whose  ministers  have  had 
such  long  pastorates  as  those  of  the  First 
Church  of  Magherafelt. 


UNION  ROAD  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


It  would  seem  that  this  Chinch  owed  its 
existence  primarily  to  differences  which 
arose  in  the  Congregation  of  First  Maghera- 
felt.  When  those  differences  first  took 
shape  is  not  definitely  known.  But  in  The 
News-Letter  of  the  7th  December,  1864, 
there  appeared  a  statement,  signed  by  the 
Rev.  Alexander  Montgomery,  setting  forth 
that  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the  congregation, 
lie  announced  that  the  Salters'  Company  had 
consented  to  grant  a  lease,  in  perpetuity,  of 
the  Manse  premises,  at  a  nominal  rent,  and 
that  on  the  motion  of  Dr.  Shannon,  seconded 
by  Mr.  M'Fall,  a  cordial  vote  of  the  thanks 
of  the  Congregation  was  passed  to  the 
Company  for  the  valuable  boon  they  had 
conferred — which  was  another  instance  of 
that  generous  liberality  towards  the  cause 
of  religion  which  they  had  so  frequently 
manifested.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  also 
passed  to  the  agent  of  the  Estate,  Mr. 
Andrew  Spotswood,  for  his  kind  attention  in 
forwarding  applications  to  London  on  behalf 
of  the  congregation,  as  well  as  for  his 
uniform  sympathy  and  interest  in  every- 
thing affecting  the  well-being  of  the 
congregation. 

In  The  Banner  of  Ulster  fa  newspaper 
which  has  ceased  to  exist)  of  the  17th 
December,  18G4,  appeared  a  letter  dated 
13th  December,  1864,  and  signed  by  TV.  E. 
Walker,  J. P.  ;  James  Sands,  Charles 
Pollock,  Emerson  G.  Sands,  John  Clover, 
Hugh  Walker,  Wm.  S.  M'Gowan,  Andrew 
Allen,  John  Anderson,  Win.  Davison,  Wm. 
Carr,  Wm.  Porter,  and  Joseph  Johnston, 
who  stated  that  they  were  Members  of  the 
Congregation,  and  most  of  them  Members  of 
the  Committeo  who  had  managed  the  secular 
affairs  of  the  Church.  They  asserted  that 
the  statement  of  the  Rev.  Alex.  Mont- 
gomery's, in  The  News-Letter,  was  the 
first  intimation  they  had  heard  of  tho 
meeting,  and  alleged  that  the  services  of 
6ome  of  them  had  been  disparaged  by  Mr. 
Montgomery. 

The  matter  of  dispute  came  under  tho 
notice  of  the  Presbytery  of  Magherafelt,  and 
on  the  24th  December,  1864,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Witherow,  of  Maghera,  Clerk  of  tho 
Presbytery,  wrote  that  the  Presbytery's 
attention  had  been  called  to  a  letter  which 
appeared  in  the  Belfast  papers  of  the  15th, 
16th  and  17th  December,  1864,  signed  by 
thirteen  persons,  professing  to  be  Members 
of  tho  Congregation,  and  the  Presbytery 
had  resolved  to  bold  a  meeting  at  Maghera- 
felt on  the  17th  January,  1865,  to  investi- 
gate    the    whole     matter.    The     Presbytery 


met,  and  after  an  inyestiagtion,  lasting  six 
days,  they  came  to  the  following  resolutions 
oa  tho  2nd  February,  1865:— 

1st— The  letter  of  the  thirteen 
members  of  the  Congregation  be  uncon- 
ditionally withdrawn,  and  is  hereby 
withdrawn. 

2nd. — Without  expressing  any  opinion 
on  the  evidence,  nothing  has  come  out  in 
the  course  of  this  investigation  which 
effects  unfavourably  in  the  slightest 
degree  the  Ministerial  character  and 
standing  of  Mr.  Montgomery. 

3rd. — That  we  have  unimpaired  confi- 
dence in  him,  as  an  able  and  faithful 
Minister,  in  every  way  worthy  of  the 
esteem  of  his  people  and  the  respect  of 
the  public. 

4th,— That  the  services  of  Mr.  W.  E. 
Walker,  J. P.,  have  been  of  very  great 
value  to  tho  Congregation,  and  to  the 
Presbyterian  cause  in  Magherafelt,  and 
nothing  has  occurred  in  connection  with 
this  affair  to  diminish  our  high  opinion  of 
him  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  honour. 

5th.— At  the  instance  of  the  Presby- 
tery the  parties  in  the  present  action 
have  agreed  to  a  cordial  reconciliation, 
and  we  recommend  all  parties  alike  to 
forgive  and  forget  the  past,  and  to  live 
and  work  in  harmony  for  the  time  to 
come. 

6th.— That  the  Presbvtery  appoint  tho 
Rev.  H.  B.  Wilson  and  Rev.  T.  Witherow, 
ministers,  and  Messrs.  J.  A.  Robson, 
Maghera,  and  James  M'Millan,  Cooks- 
town,  elders,  to  act  with  Mr.  Montgomery 
as  an  interm  session  until  such  time  as  in 
tho  judgment  of  the  Presbytery 
additional  elders  can  be  appointed  with 
advantage  to  the  congregation. 

7th. — That  wo  think  it  expedient  with- 
out appointing  a  Committee,  meanwhile 
the  gentlemen  already  acting  on  behalf  of 
the  Congregation  in  secular  matters — 
W.  E.  Walker,  J. P.,  and  Archibald 
M'Fall  be  requested  to  continue  to  act  as 
hitherto — the  one  as  Treasurer,  and  the 
other   as   Secretary. 

8th.— That  Mr.  Wilson  and  Mr. 
Witherow  _  be  appointed  to  assist  the 
Congregation  by  their  presence  and 
counsel,  in  appointing  Trustees  for  the 
Leaso  of  the  Manse  when  the  proper 
time   arrived. 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


The  recommendations  of  the  Presbytery 
failed  to  efl'eet  a  reconciliation,  for  on  tho 
13th  February,  18G5,  a  memorial  was  pre- 
pared for  presentation  to  the  Salters' 
Company,  in  which  the  opinion  was 
expressed  "that  it  was  desirable  and 
"absolutely  necessary  that  a  second 
"Presbyterian  House  of  Worship  should  be 
"erected  in  Magherafelt."  This  was  signed 
by  Wm.  E.  Walker,  John  Glover,  Robert 
Sands  and  Sons,  Hugh  Walker,  Wm.  Allen, 
Andrew  Allen,  Robert  Cochrane,  amd  Win. 
Carr,  all  of  Magherafelt,  and  Win.  Porter. 
Killyboggin.  There  is  no  record  at  hand  as 
to  the  answer  of  the  Salters'  Company  to 
tho  Memorial. 

On  the  16th  May,  1865,  a  Memorial,  signed 
by  Messrs.  W.  E.  Walker  and  John  Glover*. 
was  presented  to  the  Moderator  and 
Members  of  the  Synod  of  Ballymcna  and 
Coleraine,  in  which  it  was  alleged  that  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery  had  failed  to  carry 
out  certain  undertakings.  The  proceedings 
of  this  Synod  was  reported  in  The  Coleraine 
Chronicle  of  the  20th  May,  1865,  at  which 
tho  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery  and  Messrs. 
Walker  and  Glover  attended.  The  result 
was  that  a  Commission  was  appointed  to 
hold  a  conference,  with  tho  object  of  affect- 
ing a  reconciliation,  and  to  report  to  a 
meeting  of  the  Synod,  which  was  to  be  held 
during  the  sitting  of  tho  Assembly. 

The  Commission  met  on  the  19th  June, 
1865,  and  representatives  of  both  parties 
attended  and  were  requested  to  put  their 
"ultimatum"  on  paper.  This  having  been 
done,  the  Commission  drew  up  their  report 
and  presented  it  to  the  Synod.  The  Synod 
met  on  the  7th  July,  '  1805,  and  after 
consideration  of  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mission decided,  owing  to  the  dissentions 
that  had  occurred  in  the  congregation,  to 
ask  the  Assembly  to  empower  them,  if  they 
saw  cause,  to  organise  a  new  congregation 
in  Magherafelt,  and  to  decide  what 
pecuniary  compensation,  if  any,  should  bo 
given  to  the  retiring  party. 

A  considerable  time  intervened,  and  on 
the  21st  May,  1866,  a  memorial  to  tho 
Magherafelt  Presbytery  (which  was  to  meet 
at  Portrush)  was  drawn  up,  in  which  it 
was  stated  that  the  Presbyterian  population 
of  the  disriet  in  1861  was  2,400,  that  there 
existed  ample  material  for  a  second  congre- 
gation ;  that  they  had  procured  a  favour- 
able site  from  the  Salters'  Company;  that 
they  had  concluded  a  contract  for  £1,580 
for  the  building  of  the  Church  ;  that  tho 
architects  were  Messrs.  Boyd  and  Ball;  that 
they  intended  calling  a  permanent  pastor, 
and  promised  £100  per  annum  for  the  first 
three  years,  and  £60  a  year  afterwards, 
and  they  prayed  that  they  be  organised  in- 
to a  congregation  to  be  called  "Union 
Road." 


The  signatories  to  the  memorial  were:— 
William  E.  Walker,  Hugh  Walker,  James 
Sands,  John  Glover,  Robert  Cochrane, 
Scott  Lindsay,  Andrew  Allen,  Richard 
Gilmore,  William  Allen,  William  Carr, 
John  Cousley,  Wiliam  Bradley,  William 
Porter,  George  Stewart,  Matthew  Bow- 
man, Samuel  Porter,  William  Thompson, 
and  James  Henderson  (all  of  Magherafelt), 
John  Campbell  (Drumrainey),  Thomas 
Houston,  Hugh  Stewart,  William  Stewart, 
Abraham  Stewart,  John  Stewart  (all  of 
Aghagaskin),  James  Hayes  (Ballymoghan), 
Joseph  Johnston,  Desertmartiu;  John 
Anderson,  Toberhead ;  Eaton  Crossett, 
Can-mean;  Robert  Oorbett,  Drumrainey; 
Wm.  Porter  and  Henry  Porter,  Killyboggin; 
Wm.  S.  M'Gowan,  Grange;  Charles  Pollock, 
Farmhill;  Gabriel  Cn.thcart,  Moymucklc- 
murray;  Hugh  Ekin,  Thomas  Ekin*  Robert 
Armstrong,  and  Samuel  Barclay,  of 
Megargy;  Wm.  Ferris,  Glenmaquill;  Hugh 
Barclay  and  John  Buck,  Killyfaddy  ;  Robert 
Duncan  and  Richard  Crossett,  Coolshinney  ; 
Alexander  L.  Richey,  Dunronan  ;  Henry 
Dobbin,  Dunarnon;  Wm.  Davison,  Lisal- 
banagh  ;  James  Caldwell,  Rosgarland; 
David  Robertson,  Glenbrook  ;  John  Brown 
and  _  James  Johnston,  Curr,  and  Samuel 
Fleming,  Roshure.  Mr.  Glover  and  Mr. 
Hugh  Walker  were  appointed  to  present  the 
Memorial. 

The  Presbytery  refused  to  grant  the  prayer 
of  the  Memorial,  and  the  matter  was 
brought  before  the  Synod,  who  reversed  tho 
decision  of  the  Presbytery.  It  then  came 
before  the  General  Assembly.  Dr.  Barnett, 
of  Moneymore,  and  Mr.  Houston,  of 
Bellaghy,  objected  to  the  organization  of  the 
Congregation,  but  tho  Assembly  directed 
the  Magherafelt  Presbytery  to  organise  the 
second  Congregation  at  their  first  meeting 
(to  be  held  in  Finvoy),  and  ordered  that  tho 
Second  or  Union  Road  Congregation  bo 
transferred  to  Tyrone  Presbytery.  Tho 
Assembly  refused  to  entertain  a  Memorial 
presented  by  Mr.  Glover  and  Mr.  Hugh 
Walker  asking  for  compensation  from  the 
"Old  House."  Thus  Union  Road  Congre- 
gation was  established,  and  came  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  tho  Presbytery  of  Tyrone. 

The  erection  of  this  Church  was  completed 
in  the  year  1867,  the  contractor  being  Mr. 
George  R.  Tipping,  now  of  Castledawson, 
and  tho  cost  was  £1,951.  It  was  opened  on 
the  22nd  September,  1867,  Jdie  sermon  being 
preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.D. 

The  following  interesting  account  of  the 
opening  appeared  at  the  time: — "Union 
"Road  Church.  This  new  and  elegant 
"Church  was  opened  for  Public  Worship  On 
"the  22nd  September,  1867,  by  the  Rev. 
"John  Hall,  D.D.  Long  before  the  hour 
"appointed  for  morning  service  the  road  and 


UNION  ROAD  PRESBYTERIAN  (  Hl'KCH. 


REV.  G.  AY-  1).  It  HA,  B.A. 


METHODIST  CHURCH. 


REV-  J.  J.  BEACON. 


UNION  ROAD  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


in 


"space  before  the  Church  were  crowded  by 
"People  eager  to  obtain  admission.  The 
"doors  were  thrown  open  at  a  quarter  past 
"eleven  o'clock,  and  in  less  than  half  an 
"hour  every  seat  in  the  Church  was  filled. 
"The  Committee  had  forms  at  once  laid 
"down  along  the  spacious  aisles,  which  were 
"immediately  occupied  to  the  very  doors. 
"Dr.  Hall  preached  a  most  impressive  and 
"eloquent  sermon  from  Deut.,  c.  32,  v.  4  and 
"5.  Throughout  tho  discourse  the  Doctor 
"nobly  sustained  the  high  and  distinguished 
"character  he  has  so  justly  and  honourably 
"gained  as  a  pulpit  orator  of  uncommon 
"earnestness  and  great  power.  He  has 
"made  a  lasting  impression  on  the  people  of 
"Magherafelt  who,  while  they  acknowledge 
"with  deep  gratitude  his  kindness  in  coming 
"to  open  their  new  Church  at  a  time  when 
"the  arrangement  of  his  domestic  affairs, 
"on  the  evo  of  his  removal  to  the  far  west, 
"must  have  been  very  pressing  on  him,  feel 
"that  the  Presbyterian  cause  in  Ireland  has 
"lost  in  tho  removal  of  Dr.  Hall  to  New 
"York,  a  man  who  would  have  been  mighty 
"for  good  in  his  day  and  generation  in  this 
"country.  After  tho  sermon  a  collection  was 
"taken  up  in  aid  of  the  building  fund  of  the 
"Church,  which  amounted  to  £162  15s  Od. 
"Tho  collectors  were  Col.  P.  P.  Dawson, 
"M.P.  ;  A.  Spotswood,  J.P.  ;  J.  J.  Clarke, 
"J. P.,  Largantogher,  Maghera  (father  of 
"Col.  J.  J.  Clark,  D.L.);  Thomas  S.  Ash, 
"J.P.;  John  Raphael,  John  O'Neill,  A. 
"Beckett,  M.D.  (Moneymore);  John  Robson, 
"R.  A.  Duncan,  Thomas  Paul,  Thomas 
"Rodgers,  M.D.  ;  J.  S.  Vesey,  M.D.  ;  John 
"Lavens,  and  W.  G.  Thompson."  Dr.  Hall 
also  preached  at  the  evening  service  to  a 
largo    congregation. 

On  the  following  Sabbath  the  pulpit  was 
ocoupiod  by  the  Rev.  John  Macauley,  D.D., 
of  New  York,  and  at  the  urgent  request  of 
the  then  Committee,  Dr.  Macauley  con- 
tinued his  ministrations  for  some  time,  after 
which  a  list  of  candidates  was  made  out,  and 
the  candidates  trial  sermons  preached. 
Amongst  those  who  were  invited  was  the 
Rev.  J.  B.  Doherty,  afterwards  Rev. 
Professor  Doherty,  the  late  Under  Secretary 
for  Ireland,  and  now  Member  of  Parliament 
for  Derry  City.  Ho  preached  on  the  19th 
January,  1868,  and  also  on  the  22nd  March, 
1868,  and  was  one  of  the  four  selected  out 
of  the  list.  He  was  not,  however,  destined 
to  become  the  first  minister  of  Union  Road, 
that  honour  falling  to  tho  Rev.  John  Hemp- 
hill, who  was  ordained  on  the  31st  July, 
1868.  In  order,  if  possible,  to  liquidate  tho 
debt  then  remaining,  he  left  on  the  13th 
March,  1869,  for  a  tour  through  the  United 
States,  and  after  a  very  successful  mission, 
he  returned  on  the  3rd  January,  1870,  and 
handed  over  a  substantial  sum  to  the 
Committee.  His  eloquence  in  America  was 
so  much  appreciated  that  he  was  called  to 
Calvory,  San  Francisco,  and  ho  preached  his 
farewell  sermon  on  the  20th  February,  1870. 

He  was  succeeded  by  tho  Rev.  John^S 
Hamilton,  who     was    ordained  on  the     27ih 


December,  1870,  and  occupied  tho  pulpit  on 
the  1st  January,  1871.  His  ministry  was  of 
comparatively  short  duration,  as  he  was 
called  to  Banbridge,  and  bade  farewell  to 
the  Congregation  on  the  1st  July,  1872.  Tho 
next  minister  was  the  Rev.  John  Hall,  who 
had  been  a  Missionary  in  Australia,  and 
was  ordained  on  the  23rd  September,  1872. 
He  remained  in  charge  till  the  19th  July, 
1876,  and  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  John 
M'Connell,  who  was  installed  on  tflie  3rd 
October,  1876.  During  his  ministry  tho 
attendance  so  increased  that  the  Committee 
were  obliged  to  seat  the  gallery  and  aisles, 
and  the  debt  on  tho  congregation  was  almost 
extinguished.  After  a  pastorate  of  almost 
four  years  ho  resigned,  and  the  Rev.  John 
Kennedy  Elliott  was  selected,  and  installed 
on  the  28th  September,  1880.  He  ministered 
for  five  years,  during  which  tho  Manse  was 
provided  at  a  cost  of  almost  £700.  The  Rev. 
James  M'Granaghan  (now  Dr.  M'Granaghan) 
beoanmtho  pastor  in  1885,  leaving  for  Larne 
in  1887.  In  this  year  the  Rev.  Samuel 
M'C'une  responded  to  the  call,  and  during 
his  oversight  the  Lecture  Hall  (which  cost 
almost  £300)  was  erected,  the  heating  appa- 
ratus installed  in  the  church  at  a  cost  of 
£102  18s  Od,  and  tho  Manse  and  land 
purchased  from  the  Land  Commission.  Ho 
accepted  a  call  to  Oban,  and  on  tho  8th 
October,  1905,  preached  his  farewell 
sermon.  The  Rev.  George  W.  D.  Rea, 
succeeded  on  tho  i4th  January,  1906,  and 
ministered  till  the  31st  January,  1909,  when 
ho  took  leave  of  the  congregation;  going  to 
Coleraine,  where  he  is  at  present.  Tho 
present  minister,  Rev.  E.  Ritchie,  M.A., 
B.D.,  was  installed  on  tho  24th  April,  1909, 
and  during  his  time  the  praise  portion  of 
the  service  has  been  greatly  improved  by  tho 
introduction  of  a  fine  organ — the  honorary 
organist  being  Mr.  Colin  A.  Binnie.  Tho 
Rev.  Mr.  Ritchie  is  assisted  in  the  manage- 
ment of  tho  affairs  of  the  Church  by  tho 
following  Committee,  viz.— Dr.  Hunter, 
Mr.  J.  Walker,  Mr.  Hastings,  Mr.  H. 
M'Lernon,  Mr.  John  Shiels,  Mr.  J.  K.  Craig, 
Mr.  James  Caldwell,  Mr.  David  Wilson,  Mr. 
John  M'Cracken,  Mr.  William  Ritchie,  Mr. 
Daivd  Walls,  and  Mr.  Robert  Davison. 

The  first  persons  united  in  matrimony  in 
this  Church  were  Mr.  Andrew  M'Cormick, 
of  Brookend,  Arboe,  and  Miss  Margaret 
Ann  Davison,  of  Lisalbanagh,  and  the  first 
child  baptized  was  William  Houston,  son  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Houston,  of  Aghagaskin.  The 
oldest  member  of  the  congregation  is  Miss 
Rachel  Scilly,  Aghagaskin.  The  sextons 
were  Hugh  Johnston,  Joseph  Brown,  and 
James  Magill,  who  at  present  holds  tho 
office. 

At  tho  meeting  of  the  last  General 
Assembly  a  proposal  was  "made-  to  transfer 
Union  Road  from  Tyrone  Presbytery  to  that 
of  Magherafelt,  but  it  was  abandoned  owing 
to  the  opposition  of  the  congregation. 


THE  METHODIST  CHURCH. 


According  to  the  Rev.  Randall  C.  Phillips, 
in  his  book  on  "Irish  Methodism"— that -form 
of  religion  was  introduced  into  Ireland  in  the 
year  1747.  A  lay  preacher  from  England 
named  Thomas  Williams,  formed  a  society  in 
Dublin  of  nearly  three  hundred  members,  and 
on  John  Wesley's  first  arrival  he  found  this 
nucleus  of  the  infant  Church,  and  greatly 
admired  their  docile  spirit.  Wesley,  it  seems, 
preached  in  what  had  formerly  been  a 
Lutheran  Church,  to  a  crowded  assembly, 
and  spent  two  weeks  of  earnest  labour  among 
them  before  he  returned  to  England.  It  is 
stated  that  two  weeks  later  "Charles  Wesley 
"arrived  in  Dublin  and  continued  in  the 
"country  for  more  than  half  a.  year,  but  the 
"advent  of  the  poet  of  the  new  movement,  so 
"far  from  conducting  to  its  peaceful  develop- 
"ment,  aroused  some  of  the  fiercest  elements 
"of  the  Celtic  nature."  He  then  left  the 
metropolis  and  visicd  the  inland  counties. 
After  his  departure  from  Dublin  a  mob  broke 
into  the  Chanel  and  left  behind  them  traces 
of  a  faction  fight.  We  are  also  told  that 
on  his  journey  he  met  with  a  few  tokens  for 
good  that,  no  doubt,  encouraged  him  in  his 
work.  The  hymns  and  tunes  of  the  Society 
were  becoming  popular,  and  he  heard  them 
whistled  and  sung  while  travelling  through 
the  country. 

After  his  first  itinerancy  Methodism  struck 
root.  The  following  year  John  Wesley  again 
visited  Dublin,  and  found  the  disturbance 
had  subsided  in  that  city.  He  remained 
there  for  a  short  period,  subsequently  passing 
on  through  the  Midland  Counties  preaching 
to  vast  crowds.  He  continued  in  Ireland  for 
three  months,  forming  new  Societies,  and 
appointing  preachers  to  take  the  oversight  of 
them.  But  the  "path"  of  Methodism  at  this 
period  was  not  very  smooth,  for  scarcely  had 
Charles  Wesley  returned  to  England  than 
Cork  became  the  scene  of  a  virulent  outbreak 
which  almost  threatened  to  undo  the  good 
achieved  by  the  devoted  itinerants.  The 
members  of  the  Society  were  assailed  in  the 
most  brutal  manner.  Charles  Wesley,  who 
revisited  Cork,  was  indicted  before  the  Grand 
Jury  as  "a  vagabond  and  a  common  disturber 
"of  his  Majesty's  peace,"  but  the  preachers 
were  vindicated  fully  in  the  law  courts. 
Notwithstanding  the  opposition  experienced 
by  adherents,  which  evidently  affected  their 
English  brethren,  John  Wesley,  in  an  appeal 
to  the  English  Conference,  said:  "Have 
"patience  with  Ireland  and  she  will  rep-ay 
"you  yet" — an  appeal  which  has  been  fully 
justified,  as  Methodism  began  to  spread,  and 
now  it  is    a  power  in  the  land. 

Of  when  it  was  introduced  into  South 
Derry  little  is  known.    In     June,  1788,     Mr. 


AVesley  visited  Kilrea,  where  he  was  cordially 
received  by  the  rector  of  the  parish.  Rev. 
John  Haughton.  In  his  Journal  (in  which  ho 
recorded  the  visit),  Wesley  says:  "The  Church 
"in  which  it  was  first  proposed  is,  as  I  found, 
"a  mere  heap  of  ruins,  so  I  preached  in  the 
"New  Meeting-house,  a  very  large  and  com- 
"modious  building.  Abundance  of  people 
"flocked  together.  Some  of  them  seemed  not 
"a  little  affected,  and  all  were  seriously 
"attentive.  Surely  some  will  bring  further 
"fruit."  It  is  probable  that  Methodism  was 
introduced  into  Magherafelt  and  the  neigh- 
bouring towns  and  villages  about  the  vear 
1769.  Mr.  Crookshank,  in  his  history  of  Irish 
Methodism,  tells  us  that  about  that  ncriod 
John  Smyth  and  Thomas  Halliday  (two  of 
Wesley's  itinerants)  travelled  through  the 
whole  of  the  Counties  of  Londonderry, 
Donegal,  and  Antrim,  and  it  is  most  likely 
that  during  this  extended  tour  the  Gospel 
was  preached  in  Magherafelt,  Castledawson, 
Bellaghy  and  other  centres,  and  that 
Methodist  Societies  were  soon  afterwards 
formed.  But  the  first  direct  information 
concerning  early  Methodism  in  South  Deny, 
is  given  in  the  Rev.  Matthew  Langtree's 
"Biographical  Narrative."  It  appears  that 
when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Langtrec  was  appointed  to 
Coleraine  in  1795,  the  circuit  included  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  Counties  of  Derry 
and  Antrim,  encircling  the  Antrim  shores 
from  Portrush  to  Glenarm,  and  stretching 
from  thence  to  Ballymena,  Poi  tglenone, 
Bellaghy,  Magherafelt  and  Limavady.  In  the 
same  year  the  Rev.  Adam  Avercll  visited 
Magherafelt,  but  he  found  little  enjoyment, 
the  truth  having  long  been  preached  with 
but  little  apparent  effect. 

In  1823,  Magherafelt  and  several  other 
centres  in  South  Derry  were  joined  to  Bally- 
mena and  Maghera  Mission,  which  embraced 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  Counties  of 
Antrim  and  Derry.  In  179G  the  Rev. 
Matthew  Langtrec,  sen.,  had  charge  of  the 
Mission,  and  in  his  "Biographical  Narrative" 
he  states  that  on  his  first  and  second  tour 
round  the  circuit  he  found  that  while  a  few 
societies  were  doing  well,  the  general  state  of 
the  country,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  resembled 
the  Valley  of  Dry  Bones.  In  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Kilrea  he  found  that  not  less 
than  eleven  Societies  had  been  lost  and 
scattered  in  a  few  years,  due,  he  alleged,  to 
having  been  too  hastily  collected  into 
Societies,  and  not  having  the  advantage  of 
judicious  leaders.  In  other  parts  of  South 
Derry,  especially  Castledawson,  Magherafelt 
and  Bellaghy,  his  labours  wero  more  success- 
ful, for  he  informs  us  that  in  Bellaghy  "a" 
"door  of  blesbod  usefulness  had  been  opened," 


THE  METHODIST  CHURCH. 


51 


and  the  same  happy  result  occurred  in 
Castledawson  and  Magherafelt,  where  the 
first  Mission  School  ever  established  in  Ireland 

was  founded.  In  Castledawson  they  were 
well  supplied  with  preachers.  A  Mr.  Saul, 
who  was  then  a  Revenue  Officer,  came  to 
their  assistance  and  proved  a  zealous  labourer 
in  the  vineyard.  So  sucessful  was  the  work 
thero  that  two  years  later  Mr.  Langtrce  wrote 
that  out  of  300  persons  who  attended  a  service 
in  the  school-house,  200  returned  to  the  Love 
Foast. 

As  to  the  work  in  Magherafelt,  he  says: 
"In  Magherafelt  we  preached  in  the  school- 
"house — an  inconvenient  place  in  a  narrow 
"lane."  It  is  not  definitely  known  where 
this  lano  was  situated,  but  it  is  conjectured 
that  it  was  adjacent  to  the  present  Church. 
The  schoolmaster,  Mr.  James  Seymour,  was 
the  preacher.  In  1826  Sir  Robert  Bateson 
garnted  the  site  for  tho  building  of  a  Chapel, 
and  tho  present  one  was  opened  in  1828,  and 
the  Manse  erected. 

In  Bellaghy  a  house  was  purchased  and  was 
fitted  up  to  hold  a  largo  congregation,  and 
on  12th  November,  182(3,  it  was  opened  for 
public  worship.  The  congregations  were 
large  and  much  good  accomplished.  In  1827  a 
Mission  School  was  also  established  there, 
which  proved  of  great  service  to  the  crwise  in 
the  village  and  neighbourhood.  In  183G 
Magherafelt  was  formed  into  a  circuit,  with 
two  ministers,  embracing  a  very  extensive 
district  of  the  country.  Two  years  later  the 
services  in  Castledawson  were  held  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  James  Morrow.  In  less  than 
six  months,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Mr.  Morrow,  an  attractive  Chapel  was  built. 
In  the  erection  of  the  Chapel  an  obelisk, 
which  stood  on  the  ground,  was  turned  to 
good  account,  the  base  of  it  forming  a  porch, 
and  tho  shaft  a  sort  of  spire,  which  was 
afterwards  blown  down.  The  opening 
services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Henry 
Price  and  Wm.  A.  Derby.  The  following 
Sunday  the  pulpit  was  occupied  by  the  Rev. 
R.  J.  Meyer  with  most  edifying  results.  In 
addition  to  Mr.  Morrow  (who  for  many  years 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  spiritual  affaira 
of  the  congregation)  there  were  Mr.  "Wisdom 
Kennedy,  who  generally  led  tho  singing,  Mr. 
Matthew  M'Lernon  ad  Mr.  James  Derby,  who 
were  the  mainstay  of  the  cause.  Mr. 
M'Lernon  and  Mr.  Derby  both  left  legacies 
for  the  support  of  the  work  on  the  circuit. 
Mr.  Morrow,  prior  to  his  death,  which  took 
place  in  1877,  handed  over  £1,000  to  the 
Wesleyan  Foreigu  Missionary  Society.  Ho 
also  bequeathed  a  considerable  sum  towards 
tho  support  of  tho  Methodist  cause  in  Castle- 
dawson. It  was,  however,  lost  to  the  Society, 
as  his  death  took  place  within  three  months 
of  the  making  of  his  will.  The  late  Alder- 
man Carlisle,  J. P.,  of  Belfast,  was  a  Castle- 
dawson man,  and  a  member  of  tho  Castle- 
dawson Methodist     Congregation,  and    built 


the  house  in  which  Mr.  Morrow  lived  and 
died.  Amongst  the  many  distinguished  per- 
sons who  were  connected  with  tho  Methodist 
Church  in  Magherafelt,  none  held  a  more 
honoured  place  than  the  Rev.  Henry  Evans, 
D.D.,  of  Howth.  He  is  now  the  Senior 
Commissioner  of  National  Education,  and  the 
representative  of  the  Methodist  Church  on  the 
National  Educational  Board.  He  resided  at 
BallyrifT,  near  The  Loop,  where  his  boyhood 
was  spent,  and  where  his  sister  resides  at 
present,  and  is  also  a  valued  member  of  the 
Church.  Several  of  the  other  ministers  asso- 
ciated with  Magherafelt  were  the  Rev.  Robert 
Geale,  who  was  recommended  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry  by  the  Magherafelt  quarterly 
meeting  in  1859,  with  Dr.  Henry  Evans ; 
•Rev.  Gabriel  Clarke,  who  spent  his  earlier 
years  in  Magherafelt;  Rev.  J.  Tweedie 
Agnew,  who  resided  with  his  parents  for 
several  years  in  Maghearfelt,  and  was  con- 
verted in  Castledawson  Chapel;  and  at  a  still 
later  period,  Rev.  E.  Whittaker,  who  resided 
in  Magherafelt  for  seven  years,  and  was 
appointed  a  local  preacher  by  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  the  South  Dcrry  Mission. 

In  1874  Cookstown  was  separated  from 
Magherafelt,  and  the  latter  place  became 
an  appointment  for  one  minister.  Tho  Rev. 
Charles  Wood  was  the  first  Superintendent, 
atid  after  a  ministry  of  about  two  and  a  half 
years,  he  died  on  the  11th  January,  1877, 
and  was  buried  in  St.  Swithin's  Church 
Cemetery.  During  the  following  fifteen 
years  tho  ministers  who  laboured  in  the 
circuit  were :— Revs.  Robert  Geale,  Thomas 
Poster,  James  Edwards,  John  C.  Irvino, 
George  Barnes,  John  Wright,  and  Alexander 
Elliott. 

Early  in  the  third  year  of  the  latter 
clergyman's  stay  in  Magherafelt,  a  request 
for  Sunday  Services  was  made  to  him  by  a 
number  of  families  conneoted  with  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  in  Knock- 
cloughrim.  Mr.  Elliott  accordingly  arranged 
for  a  service  to  be  held  every  Sunday  after- 
noon in  the  Temperance  Hall,  Knockclough- 
rim,  until  tho  application  would  bo  con- 
sidered by  the  District  Meeting  and 
Conference.  At  the  following  Conferenco 
the  Rev.  John  Elliott  was  appointed  to  tho 
Circuit,  and  arrangements  were  completed  for 
the  establishment  of  regular  Sunday  Services 
in  Knockcloughrim.  To  facilitate  those 
arrangements  as  well  as  to  aid  a  general 
forward  movement  on  the  Circuit,  additional 
grants  were  given  from  the  Home  Mission 
Fund,  and  eventually  two  evangelists  were 
employed. 

In  addition  to  the  Sunday  Services  in 
Knockeloughrim,  a  regular  Sunday  morning 
service  was  started  in  Magherafelt,  and  extra 
Sunday  and  week  evening  services  were  com- 
menced in  various  portions  of  the  Circuit. 
Somo  time  afterwards  a  Mission  Church, 
composed  partly  of  iron,  wood  and  stone,  was 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT 


erected  in  Knockcloughrim,  capable  of  seat- 
ing about  200  persons.  Extensive  alterations 
and  repairs  were  also  carried  out  in  tlio 
Church  and  Manse  in  Magherafelt,  and  much 
needed  repairs  were  effected  in  the  Churches 
in  Maghera  and  Bellaghy. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  1897  the  nnme 
of  the  Circuit  was  changed  from  Maghera- 
felt  to  South  Deny  Mission. 

During  Mr.  Elliott's  seven  years  ministry, 
most  successful  special  services  were  con- 
ducted by  Miss  Wakefield  (a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends)  in  tho  several  chapels  on 
the  Mission,   which   were  largely   attended. 

The  Rev.  W.  J.  Clayton  succeeded  .Mr. 
Elliott  in  1901,  and  an  assistant,  Rev.  I.  IT. 
Munro,  was  also  appointed  to  take  the  place 
of  the  two  evangelists. 

In  1903  the  Rev.  Samuel  Allen  was 
appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Clayton,  with  the 
Rev.  W.  J.  Rooney  as  his  colleague. 

In  November,  1903,  successful  Mission 
Services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  James 
Kirkwood  in  Magherafelt,  and  two  months 
later  a  Mission  was  held  in  Knockcloughrim 
by  Mrs.  Dowling,  Belfast.  During  Mr. 
Allen's  stay,  all  the  trust  property  on  tho 
Mission  was  put  into  a  thorough  state  of 
repair,  which  included  the  erection  of  two 
new  windows  in  the  front  gablo  of  tho  Church 
in  Magherafelt.  Altogether  a  sum  of  about 
£205  was  expended  on  the  Church  and 
Manse,  and  on  tho  Churches  in  Castledawson, 
Knockcloughrim,  Bellaghy  and  Maghera, 
and  the  procuring  new  organs  for  Maghera- 
felt and  Knockcloughrim  Churches.  The 
Church  in  Castledawson  was  renovated  at 
the  sole  expense  of  the  late  Mr.  W.  J.  Derby, 
J. P.,  Aughrim  House,  who  was  then  Senior 
Circuit  Steward,  and  who  took  a  very 
practical  and  earnest  interest  in  the  cause 
of  Methodism,  and  his  death  was  greatly 
deplored — not  only  by  his  co-religionists — but 
also  by  the  community  generally. 

To  liquidate  tho  debt  a  bazaar  was  held  in 
the  Town  Hall,  Magherafelt,  in  June,  1904, 
which  was  opened  by  Mr.  John  Gordon,  K.C., 
M.P.,  for  South  Deny,  and  a  .substantial 
sum  was  realised. 

In  October,,  1903,  the  Church  in  Maghera, 
which  had  been  closed  for  a  considerable 
period,  was  re-opened  for  a  fortnightly  week 
ovening  service,  and  six  months  later  a 
regular  Sunday  evening  service  was  com- 
menced. In  carrying  out  tho  work  of 
tho  Mission,  tho  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  was 
admirably  supported  by  Mrs.  Allen,  who 
conducted  the  musical  portion  of  the 
services.  She  was  a  fino  musician  and  a  tact- 
ful leader  of  a  cboir,  and  on  several 
occasions  she  willingly  assisted  other 
churches,  for  which  she  received  their  grate- 
ful thanks. 


Tho  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  was  succeeded  by  tho 
Rev.  Thomas  Rutherford,  and  he,  in  turn, 
has  been  followed  by  Rev.  \Y.  E.  Maguire. 
During  bis  ministry  street  preaching  was 
inaugurated,  and  principally  on  fair  days 
(throughout  tlie  Mission)  he  "was  always  to  bo 
found  boldly  proclaiming  Christ  and  Him 
orueificd.  He  was  deservedly  popular— a 
remark  which  applies  with  equal  force  to  his 
amiable  wife— who  not  only  conducted  the 
musical  portion  of  tho  services,  and  trained 
tho  choir,  but  was  ever  ready  to  assist  any 
worthy  musical  undertaking  by  her  presence 
and  help.  His  assistant  was  Rev  J.  J. 
Beacon,  and  he  succeeded  the  Rev.  T. 
Findlow.  The  previous  assistants  were  Revs. 
H.  G.  Martin,  C.  F.  Maguire,  T.  J. 
M'Cord,  E.  White,  J.  Johnston,  II.  Thomp- 
son, and  YV.  II.  Green.  The  present  superin- 
tendent is  Rev.  W.  T.  Brcwnlee,  and  his 
assistant  is  Rev.  T.  J.  Burchill. 

In  carrying  on  tho  work  or  tho  Mission, 
the  Superintendent  and  his  Assistant  require 
the  encouragement  and  support  of  tho 
Circuit  Stewards,  and  Mr.  C.  \Y.  Henry,  as 
senior,  and  Mr.  George  Garvin,  junior 
Stewards  respectively,  assist  them  in  every 
possible  way,  and  are  ideal  stewards.  As 
regards  the  cause  at  Knockcloughrim,  it  owes 
much  to  the  large  heartcdness  and  energy  of 
the  Shiels  family.  The  late  Mr.  William 
Shiels,  who  was  Chapel  Steward  and  Sunday 
School  Superintendent,  did  much  to  further 
the  Methodist  religion  in  that  district,  and 
his  son,  Wm.  George  Shiels,  is  faithfully 
following  in  his  footsteps.  Mr.  Joseph 
Montgomery  has  taken  up  the  position  of 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School,  and  is 
a  worthy  successor  to  Mr.  Shiels.  Tho  Rev. 
T.  J.  Burchill  is  the  Sunday  School  Superin- 
tendent, and  Mr.  R.  K.  Burnsido,  Chapel 
Steward  in  Magherafelt,  Mr.  W.  Pickering, 
Chapel  Steward  in  Castledawson,  and  Mr. 
Vance  in  Bellaghy.  The  Sexton  in  Maghera- 
felt is  Mr.  John  Devlin. 

The  reference  to  tho  Methodist  Church 
would  not  bo  complete  without  mentioning 
.Mr.  Abraham  M 'Knight,  now  deceased,  who 
was  the  local  senior  preacher.  Mr.  M'Knight 
commenced  to  preach  when  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  was  a  local  preacher  of  over  fifty 
years  standing,  aind  bis  able  ministry  of  tho 
Word  was  much  appreciated  by  the  different 
congregations. 

The  cause  of  Methodism  has  undoubtedly 
grown,  and  tho  congregation  in  Magherafelt 
are  to  bo  congratulated  on  their  very  well 
equipped  and  neat  Church,  which  some  years 
ago  was  adorned  by  two  stained  glass 
windows,  tho  gift  of  Mr.  W.  IT.  Millar,  of 
New  Yoik,  in  memory  of  his  mother.  Mr. 
Millar  is  brother  to  Mrs.  Y\' illiam  Bell,  of 
King  Street,  Magherafelt,  who  has  always 
evinced  a  deep  interest  in  the  Church  in 
Magherafelt. 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 


The  site  occupied  by  the  first  Roman 
Catholic  Place_  of  Worship  in  or  around 
Magherafolt,,  is  not  now  locally  known.  It 
would  seem  that  some  time  prior  to  1831 
there  was  a  Chapel  in  existence  situated  on 
the  road  leading  to  Castledawson.  about  the 
position  at  present  occupied  by  the  lower 
gate  on  the  property  of  the  late  Mr.  R. 
M'Guckin,  solicitor.  When  it  was  erected, 
there  is  no  definite  information,  but  it  is 
said  that  it  at  least  dated  from  the  year 
1700.  Prior  to  that  period,  in  order  to  cany 
out  the  principles  of  their  religion,  the, 
Roman  Catholics  met  at  various  places,  and 
their  religious  rites  were  generally  performed 
at  what  is  commonly  known  as  "Mass  or  Altar 
Stones."  According  to  the  information  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Pagan,  who  visited  the  district 
in  183G,  on  behalf  of  the  Government,  a 
stone,  resembling  a  cross,  was  found  in  the 
holding  of  John  Redfern,  Mullaghboy,  about 
the  year  180.3,  at  a  large  hawthorn  bush 
where,  it  was  said,  Roman  Catholic  "Worship 
had  been  performed. 

A  deputation  of  the  Salters'  Company 
camo  over  to  inspect  the  Estate,  in  the 
year  1810,  prior  to  taking  it  over  into  their 
own  hands.  They  visited  the  Chapel  and 
made  the  following  report: — "The  Chapel 
"(Catholic)  is  situated  in  Aghagaskin,  about 
"a  mile  from  Magherafelt.  It  was  erected 
"in  the  year  1831  by  voluntary  subscriptions 
"of  the  congregation,  together  with  contri- 
"butions  from  Protestants  of  both  denomi- 
"nations  in  the  parish  and  vicinity  (£110 
"being  presented  by  the  Marquis  of  London- 
"derry  and  Sir  *  Robert  Bateson),  and 
"collections  made  in  several  places  in  Ireland 
"and  Scotland— total  expense,  £500.  The 
"deputation  visited  the  building,  which  is  a 
"plain  unadorned  structure,  much  out  of 
"repair,  its  earthen  floor  is  worn  into  holes, 
"and  its  general  aspect  indicated  a  congre- 
gation in  confined  circumstances.  A  burial 
"ground  is  attached  to  the  Chapel.  Mass  is 
"celebrated  twice  on  each  Sunday— at  ten 
"and  twelve  in  the  morning;  but  there  is  no 
"week  day  Mass  nor  Vespers.  The  Rev. 
"John  Qu'inn  is  the  Parish  Priest  of  Maghera- 
"felt,  and  the  Rev.  John  M'Donnell  is  the 
"Coadjutor  (Assistant)  Priest.  There  is  a 
"Sunday  School  in  the  Chapel.  The  depu- 
tation" had  many  opportunities  of  meeting 
"with  the  Rev.  John  Quinn,  whose  urbanity, 
"frankness  and  general  deportment  have 
"gained  for  him  the  goodwill  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  neighbourhood  of  all  denomi- 
"nations."  Regarding  the  Sunday  School, 
the  report  states  that  there  were  85  males 
and  100  females,  and  a  note  is  added  that  the 
Rev.  John  Quinn  stated     that  from     deaths, 


emigration,  want  of  food  and  clothing,  tho 
members  had  fallen  off  during  the  last  five 
years. 

According  to  a  Parliamentary  return  made 
in  1766,  there  were  in  the  Parish  G25  families, 
of  which  203  were  Roman  Catholics.  There 
was  then  no  Roman  Catholic  Priest  resident 
in  the  Parish,  the  Priests  from  Eallinderry 
and  The  Loop  alternately  doing  duty.  So  far 
as  can  bo  ascertained,  the  Rev.  John  Quinn 
was  the  first  resident  Priest,  and  his 
assistant  lodged  in  the  house  at  present 
occupied  by  Mr.  William  Davison,  Killy- 
neece.  Father  Quinn  came  to  the  parish 
about  the  year  1822,  and  died  in  18(52,  having 
ministered  for  at  least  forty  years.  Ho 
lodged  in  Protestant  houses  in  Magherafelt, 
the  principal  Catholics  not  being  in  a  position 
to  offer  him  suitable  apartments.  It  was 
during  his  ministry  that  tho  present  site  on 
which  tho  Parochial  House  stands  was 
secured.  It  is  told  that  the  house,  the 
property  of  a  Protestant,  was  said  to  be 
haunted,  and  as  frequent  attempts  at  letting 
it  were  unavailing,  Father  Quinn  was 
approached  by  the  owner,  who  stated  that  if 
the  offending  spirit  was  banished  lie  would 
give  tho  ground  for  a  Parochial  House. 
Father  Quinn  exorcised  the  house  ;  the  ghost 
disappeared,  and  the  site  was  secured. 

Father  Quinn  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Patrick  Campbell,  P.P.,  who  was  a  man  of 
fine  educational  attainments,  and  was  very 
much  beloved  by  his  people.  He  was 
appointed  co-manager  with  the  then  Rector 
of  Magherafelt,  of  Drumraincy  School,  but 
owing  to  there  not  being  any  Catholic 
children  in  attendance,  he  subsequently 
resigned  the  position.  During  the  period 
he  acted  as  manager,  it  is  said,  that  one  day 
he  was  accosted  in  the  School  by  a  little 
Presbyterian  girl,  who  said:— 

"Campbell,  thou  are  so  meek  and  mild, 
And  might'st  be  guided  by  a  child." 
He  died  in  1867,  and  in  the    Chapel  thero 
is  a  marble  tablet  erected  to  his  memory,  and 
it  contains  the  following  inscription : — 

IN  MEMORIAM. 
Erected  A.D.  1905,  by  the  Priests  and 
People  of  Magherafelt,  to  the  memory 
of  the  late  Rev.  Patrick  Campbell,  P.P.', 
who  was  the  good  Pastor  of  Magherafelt 
and  Ardfcrea  North,  from     1SG2  to  1807. 

R.I. P. 
"Qui     ad     Justitiam     Erudiunt    Multos 
Fulgebunt     Quasi     Stellae   in  Perpetuas 
Alternitates."— Dan.,  12—3, 


54 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT 


Father  Campbell  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  P.  Canon  Donnelly.  The  Chapel  has 
been  very  much  improved  during  Pastorate 
of  the  Very  Rev.  J.  Canon  Quinn,  P.P. — 
£203  8s  4d  having  been  expended  on  it  during 
the  years  1903  and  1905.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  rebuilt  three  times,  and  is  now  in 
excellent  condition  and  repair.  It  bears  the 
following  inscription : — 

HIC  DOMUS  DEI  EST, 

ET  PORTA  COELI,  ET 

VOCABITUR  AULA 

DEI 

A.D.  1831 

REV.  J.  I.  QUINN. 

Tho  graveyard  has  also  received  attention 
from  Canon  Quinn — £304  2s  4d  having  been 
expended  in  tho  years  1907  and  1910 — in 
making  additions  to  it,  deep  draining  it,  and 
building  the  boundary  wall.  The.  property 
is  now  in  splendid  order  and  a  credit  to  the 
parishioners. 

One  of  the  aims  of  the  Very  Rev.  Canon 
Donnelly,  on  his  appointment  as  Parish 
Priest,  was  to  have  a  Catholic  Church 
erected  in  the  town  of  Magherafelt.  To  this 
end  he  worked  most  assiduously,  never 
allowing  any  obstacle,  no  matter  how  great, 
to  swerve  him  from  tho  object  which  was  so 
dear  to  his  heart.  The  Salters'  Company 
was  approached,  but  the  application  was 
postponed.  However,  Canon  Donnelly  was 
not  to  be  denied,  and  the  late  Dr.  Francis 
Auterson,  J. P.,  of  Rainey  Street,  obtained 
an  introduction  to  the  Court  of  Assistants  of 
tho  Salters'  Company  and,  accompanied  by 
Canon  Donnelly,  visited  the  offices  in  St. 
Swithin's  Lane,  with  such  success  that  the 
Company  requested  to  be  furnished  with  a 
working  plan  and  specification  of  the  pro- 
posed Church.  These  were  submitted  and 
approved,  and  the  Company  decided  that  a 
suitable  site  should  be  given.  Subse- 
quently the  present  site  was  obtained  free 
for  ever,  the  Company  giving,  in  addition,  a 
donation  of  £1,000,  which  was  specially  ear- 
marked towards  the  building  of  the  tower. 
No  time  was  lost  in  completing  the  arrange- 
ments, and  the  Foundation  Stone  was  laid 
in  September,  1878.  Canon  Donnelly,  sup- 
ported, as  he  was  by  tho  whole-hearted 
devotion  of  his  Parishioners  and  a  largo 
number  of  friends  saw  the  consummation 
of  his  labours  on  tho  Sunday,  the  10th 
September,  1882,  when  the  Church  was 
solemnly  dedicated  by  the  then  Primate 
of  Armagh,  Archbishop  M'Gettigan,  the 
sermon  being  preached  by  his  Eminence 
Cardinal  Logue,  then  Bishop  of  Raphoe. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Donnelly,  Bishop  of  Clogher, 
sang  High  Mass,  and  the  musical  portion  of 
the  service  was  beautifully  rendered  by  the 
Armagh  Cathedral  Choir,  which  was  specially 
brought  over  for  the  occasion.  The  atten- 
dance at  the  service  was  very    large,  special 


trains  bringing  large  numbers  from  all  the 
principal  towns  in  Derry,  Tyrone  and 
Armagh. 

Tho  Church,  admittedly  one  of  the  finest 
in  Ireland,  was  built  by  Messrs.  M'Clelland, 
Deny,  to  the  specification  of  that  eminent 
firm  of  architects,  Messrs.  Byrne  and  O'Neill, 
of  Dublin  and  Belfast,  and  cost  £10,000. 
The  stone  was  obtained  from  Carland 
Quarries,  and  the  ten  polished  marble 
Pillars  were  obtained  from  Peterhead 
Quarries,  Aberdeen.  The  collection  taken 
at  the  service  amounted  to  £1,000.  Such 
was  the  popularity  of  Canon  Donnelly,  and 
so  responsive  were  all  classes  to  his  appeals, 
that  the  Church,  which  is  called  "The 
Church  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Assumption," 
was  opened  practically  free  of  debt.  The  late 
Mr.  James  Harbison  (father  of  Mr.  John 
Harbison,  solicitor,  was,  it  is  said,  the 
largest  donor,  subsciibing  £200,  and  among 
other  generous  contributors  were  Messrs. 
Charles  M'Kenna,  John  Donaghy,  Richard 
Donnelly,  James  M'Kee,  and  Dr.  Auterson. 

The  following  account  of  the  opening  of  the 
new  church  appeared  in  the  "Belfast  Morning 
News"  of  September  11,  1882:— 

"Yesterday,  in  presence  of  large  crowds  of 
the  faithful  from  different  points  of  our 
Northern  Province,  one  of  the  most  imposing 
ceremonies  in  connection  with  religion  in  the 
Catholic  Church  was  performed  at  Maghera- 
felt. The  pomp  anj  ceremony  attendant 
upon  the  performance  of  this  great  religious 
fete  excited,  as  ceremonies  of  a  similar  kind 
ever  have  excited  in  Ireland,  the  deep  and 
glowing  fervour  of  the  people.  It  was  the 
design,  knowing  that  the  ceremonies  would  be 
of  a  protracted  kind,  to  commence  at  half- 
past  eleven  o'clock,  but  the  special  excursion 
train  from  Belfast,  not  having  arrived  until 
considerably  Inter,  it  \v,ts  deemed  expedient 
to  delay  for  a  short  time  the  grand  work  of 
the  day.  It  may  he  deemed  seasonable  to 
state  that  this  readiness  on  the  part  of  thoso 
who  were  immediately  in  charge  of  every- 
thing in  connection  with  the  dedication  was 
occasioned  by  a  desire  to  meet  the  con- 
venience of  the  very  large  numbers  who 
arrived,  not  alone  by  the  Belfast  excursion 
train,  hut  also  the  large  and  influential 
throng  that  came  from   the     Primatial  City. 

The  blessing  of  the  church  was  commenced 
by  the  usual  detour  of  the  edifice,  made  by  tho 
Lord  Primate,  in  company  .with  the  other 
prelates,  while  the  procession  was  brought  up 
by  largo  bodies  of  priests  and  acolytes.  There 
is  nothing  new  in  a  religious  performance  of 
this  kind,  except  it  be  those  who  actually 
take  part  in  it,  and  on  this  account  we  do 
not  deem  it  necessary  to  present  in  anything 
like  a  detailed  way  the  various  movements  of 
priests  and  prelates— for  everything  that  can 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 


command  attention,  and  that  is  worthy  of 
close  thought,  not  alone  in  regard  to  the  new 
church  at  Magherafelt,  but  concerning  all 
Catholic  churches  wherever  erected,  is  to  be 
found  in  the  magnificent  sermon  by  the  Most 
Rev-  Dr.  Loguo.  Canon  Donnelly  deserves 
great  credit  lor  the  efforts  he  has  made,  and 
it  is  only  justice  to  state  that  the  strong 
support  he  received,  not  alone  from  Catholics, 
but  from  others  of  different  persuasions,  is  a 
proof  of  the  growing  influence  of  Catholicity 
in  the  north,  and  of  the  development  of  a 
spirit  of  toleration  and  good  fellowship  among 
all  classes  and  creeds. 

Higli  Mass  commenced  at  half-past  twelve, 
the  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Donnelly,  Lord  Bishop  of 
Clogher,  being  the  celebrant,  assisted  by  the 
Rev.  T.  Larkiu,  P.P. ;  Rev.  11.  M'Oscar, 
CC,  deacon  ;  Rev.  Father  Morris,  sub- 
deacon,  and  Rev.  Canon  Coyne  and  Rev. 
John  M'Kenna,  masters  of  ceremonies. 

Amongst  those  present  were— Most  Rev. 
Dr.  M'Gettigan,  Lord  Primate;  Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Dorrian,  Lord  Bishop  of  Down  and 
Connor;  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Loguo,  Lord  Bishop 
of  Kaphoe;  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Donnelly,  Lord 
Bishop  of  Clogher ;  Monsignior  Stephens, 
Killybcgs ;  VTery  Rev.  Canon  Donnelly,  P.P., 
Magherafelt ;  Very  Rev.  Canon  Hughes, 
P.P.,  Lordship;  Very  Rev.  Canon  Covne, 
P.P.,  Moy;  Very  Rev.  Canon  P.  J.  Byrne, 
P.P.,  Cookstown  ;  Very  Rev.  H.  Harbison, 
C.S.S.R.,  Dundnlk;  Very  Rev.  Patrick 
Boyle,  President,  Seminary,  Armagh  ;  Very 
Rev.  Dr.  Hassan,  President,  Seminary, 
Deny;  Very  Rev.  Patina-  Grue,  S.M., 
Marist  College,  Dundalk  ;  Rev.  C.  Clarke, 
CC,  Bellaghv;  Rev.  P.  J.  Hamill,  P.P., 
Portglenone;  Rev.  John  M'Grahan,  P.P., 
Randalstown ;  Rev.  B.  Murphy,  P.P., 
Carrickmore ;  Rev.  Edward  Gillan,  CC, 
Maghe.ra;  Rev.  F.  Larkin,  P.P.,  Money- 
more;  Rev.  Father  M'Kenna,  CC,  Long- 
field;  Rev.  B.  M'Gurk,  P.P.,  Lavey  ;  Rev. 
James  Kennedy,  CC,  Duneane  ;  Rev.  J.  J. 
M'Cartan,  P.P.,  Dona ghm ore  ;  Rev.  B. 
Laverv,  P.P.,  Coagh  ;  Rev.  F.  M'Elvcgue, 
CC,  Ardboe;  Rev.  P.  Parrel! v,  Adm.,  St. 
Matthew's,  Belfast;  Rev.  J.  M'Ardle,  CC, 
St.  Malachv's,  do.  ;  Rev.  R.  Rinvth,  CC, 
St.  Malachy's,  do.  ;  Rev.  James  Mullen,  CC, 
Magherafelt;  Rev.  James  M'Fadden,  P.P., 
Cloughanellv ;  Rev.  John  Quinn,  CC, 
Oullyhanna;  Rev.  J.  M'Donnoll,  CC, 
Duneane;  Rev.  Peter  M'Namee,  CC, 
Granaghan;  Rev.  P.  Conlan,  CC,  Money- 
more;  Rev.  P.  Bradley,  P.P.,  Desertmartin  ; 
Rev.  Hugh  M'Oscar,  Adm.,  Armagh  ;  Rev.  P. 
M'Gocnoy,  CC,  do.  ;  etc,  etc.,  etc. 

[Here  fellows  sermon,  not  copied,  bv  Dr. 
Loguo.] 

A  collection  was  then  taken  up,  the  follow- 
ing    gentlemen     assisting: — Mr.   Win.     Ross, 


J. P.,  Dunlewry  House,  Donegal;  Surgeon- 
Major  Lavcry,  J.P.,  Armagh;  Mr.  James  T. 
M'Kenna.  J. P.,  Drapcrstowu  ;  Mr  James 
Harbison,  J. P.,  Magherafelt;  Dr.'  Vesey, 
Magherafelt  ;  Sub-Inspector  Winder, 

Magherafelt;  Dr.  Autterson,  .Magherafelt; 
Dr.  Autterson,  Cookstown;  Messrs.  John 
Harbison,  solicitor,  Magherafelt;  Thomas 
Brown,  do.  ;  YV.  J.  Reynolds,  solicitor,  Dun- 
gannon;  Joseph  Loughrcy,  solicitor,  Deny  ; 
James  Murphy,  V.S.,  Armagh;  John  Doris, 
V.S.,     Cookstown;       J.     Hughes,     Armagh; 

—  Scott,  Magherafelt;  James  Larkin, 
Bellagherty ;  Francis  O'Hanlon,  Cookstown; 
J.  Leonard,  Grange;  .J.  Mollov,  Cookstown; 
P.  Dempsey,  Belfast;  C.  Hagan,  Dun- 
gannon;  U.  Davidson,  Bella  why  N 
M'Guckian,  Ballylifford  ;  —  Graham"(Graham 
and     Kecgan's)      C      Neeson,      Ballymena ; 

—  Duffin,  Moneyglass;  J.  Keenan,  P.L.G.  ; 
John  Grew,  Portadown ;  J.  M'Kendry, 
P.L.G. ;  C.  M'Kenna,  do.;  C.J.  Seullin, 
Magherafelt;  F.  Forrr.n,  do.  ;  L.  Ferran, 
do.;  J.  Kilroe,  Magherafelt;  N.  Mulholland, 
Slackpark  ;  T.  S-  Taylor,  Magherafelt;  James 
Harbison,  sen.,  do.;  T.  Darbv,  do.;  P. 
MCnffrey  J  P.,  Armagh;  T.  T."  Brannigan, 
Belfast;  J.  Brown,  Magherafelt;  J.  Henrv 
Draperstown ;  -M'Kenna,  Maghora  ;  James 
brew,  Portadown;  J.  Dowd,  Belfast-  H 
Kennedy,  Money  nick ;  -  Flvnn,  Glasgow;" 
J.  Barklie,  Randa.lstmvn ;  T.  M'Atamnev 
Ballymena;  John  Dignaim  Armagh-  'j 
Mullan,   Cookstown;    R.    Donnellv,   Magher:i- 

elt;  ..  M'Mon,,ni„,  Magherafelt';  J.  Moron, 
ii  ii-  .  y '   Cooksto«"n  5    J"'«es  Johnston, 

Belfast;  James  Skives,  liroagh  ;  Louis 
\Y ash  Maghora;  T.  M'Sherry,  Cookstown; 
J.   Boden,   Magherafelt;      J.    Neill,   Belfast; 

—  M'Ck'lIa.nd,  Deny  ;  J.  Devlin,  Cookstown; 
James  Wynne,  Armagh;  J.  Walker 
Magherafelt;  S.  Porter.  Magherafelt;  John 
Walsh,  Hotel,  do.  ;  -  Leeper,  Cookstown; 
J.  M'Namee,  Magherafelt;  -  Granger 
railway  contractor,  do.;  J.  Richard,  Cooks- 
town; Charles  Gallon,  Belfast;  P.  Campbell, 
Ready;  J.  Mullan,  Dimgannon  ;  J.  Sands, 
Magherafelt;  —Field,  Maghera ;  J.  Dorothv! 
Magherafelt ;  Samuel  Porter,  do.;  John 
Donaghy,  do.,  etc. 

A  word  may  be  given  in  regard  to  the 
design  of  the  church  and  the  stvlo  of  the 
architecture.  The  design  of  the  church 
comprises  nave  and  aisles,  two  side  chapels, 
and  an  apsidal  sanctuary.  The  tower  is  at 
the  south-west  angle,  and  the  sacristies  on 
the  north  side.  The  dimensions  are  112  feet 
in  length,  58  feet  in  width,  (i7  feet  in  height 
to  the  cross  on  the  western  gable  d  the  nave 
and  140  feet  to  the  apex  of  the  spire.  Facing 
the  street  is  the  principal  entrance  in  the 
west  end.  It  is  reached  by  an  ascent  of  three 
flights  of  wide  store  steps.  The  entraneo 
door  is    of  three     orders  of    mouldings,     the 


r.c 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


outer  order  shafted.  Over  tlio  door  and 
separated  from  it  by  a  curved  string  course, 
is  a  niche  containing  a  statute  of  our  Lady, 
the  work  of  Mr.  Farley,  of  Dublin,  and  on 
each  side  a  two-light  traceried  window  ;  over 
the  niche  is  a  circular  window,  the  whole 
enclosed  by  a  label  moulding.  A  second 
entrance  in  the  tower  similar  to  the  main 
doorway  gives  access  to  the  south  aisle.  The 
aisle  walls  are  divided  into  bays  by  buttresses, 
and  pierced  by  coupled  lancets  in  each  bay. 
The.  clerestory  is  pierced  by  circular  windows, 
foliated  alternately  cinquefoil  and  scxtfoil  ; 
the  apse  is  lighted  by  two  light  traceried 
windows.  Internally  the  building  is  light- 
some and  well  proportioned  ;  the  pillars  are 
polished  granite,  the  arches  moulded  of  stone, 
and  the  ceilings  are  of  wood  and  pannelkd, 
the  ribs  springing  from  stone  corbels  carved, 
and  representing  the  heads  of  saints ;  the 
tho  ceilings  of  the  chapels  are  grained.  At 
the  western  end  is  an  organ-gallery,  having  a, 
richly  moulded  and  carved  front.  The  floor 
is  seated  with  open  benches  of  suitable 
design  of  high  merit,  the  passages  being 
laid  with  pattern  tiles.  The  sanctuary  and 
chapels  are  enclosed  by  a  carved  oak  railing, 
the  floor  being  laid  with  encaustic  tiles.  In 
tho  centre  of  each  cf  the  nave  arches  stands  a 
brass  floriated  gas  standard,  made  by  Messrs. 
Patterson,  of  Belfast,  from  special!  Gothic 
designs;  they  form  a  striking  feature  in  the 
interior  of  the  church,  highly  creditable  to 
the  firm  by  which  they  werb  executed. 
Advantage  has  been  taken  of  the  declivity  in 
tho  ground  to  form  a  heating  chamber  at 
tho  western  end  cf  the  church.  TIu*  building 
is  in  the  middle  pointed  style  of  architecture. 
It  was  designed  by  Messrs.  O'Neill  and  Byrne, 
of  Belfast  and  Dublin,  architects,  under 
whom  it  was  partially  carried  out  ;  and  com- 
pleted under  the  superintendence  of  Messrs. 
O'Neill  and  M'Carthy,  of  Belfast  and  Dublin. 
The  contractor  for  the  building  and  fittings, 
and  furniture,  was  Mr.  M'Clelland,  Deny; 
for  the  decorations,  Early  and  Powells,  of 
Dublin;  Mr.  J.  Farley  executed  the  carving. 
The  enclosing  walls  and  laying  out  the 
terraced  grounds  was  executed  by  Mr. 
Patrick  Donnelly,  of  Magherafelt,  and  the 
gates  and  gothic  railings  by  Messrs.  Riddel 
Limited,  Belfast. 

After  Mass,  the  Very  Rev.  Canon  Donnelly 
announced  that  the  sum  received  on  this 
occasion  amounted  to  £1,600  in  all,  including 
in  round  numbers,  nearly  £1,000  as  the  pro" 
coeds  of  the  collection,  £100  of  ticket  money, 
and  close  upon  £000  received  previous  to  the 
dedication.  Father  Donnelly  then  made  a 
well-deserved  and  complimentary  reference  to 
tho  Lord  Primate  for  his  zeal  and  well-known 
energy  in  all  Catholic  undertakings  ;  to  the 
scholarly  and  distinguished  preacher,  Dr. 
Logue;  to  the  choir ;  and  to  the  'large 
numbers  of  kind  friends,  including  those  who 


were  not  Catholics,  who  devoted  themselves 
in  a  practical  and  really  magnificent  way  to 
help  to  clear  off  the  heavy  debt  that  remained 
on  the  building.  The  rev.  gentleman  also 
thanked  the  Salters'  Company,  who  were,  ho 
said,  good  enough  to  grant  the  site  at  a 
nominal  rent,  with  a  lease  in  perpetuitv,  and 
who  also  subscribed  £1,000  towards  the' build- 
ing fund. 

A  very  select  programme  cf  sacred  music 
was  performed  by  the  Armagh  Catholic 
Cathedral  Choir. 

After  the  ceremony,  an  excellent  luncheon 
was  served  in  Mr.  YValshe's  Hotel,  to  :,  large 
number,  chiefly  visitors  who  came  from  a 
distance." 


Canon  Donnelly  died  on  the  30th  January, 
1893,  and  was  laid  to  rest  underneath  tho 
Sanctuary,  close  to  the  beautiful  Marble 
Altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  which,  with  the 
stained  glass  window  above  it,  was  erected 
at  his  personal  expense.  And  in  order  that 
his  memory  might  be  be  perpetuated,  the 
parishioners  erected  a  handsome  Marble 
Pulpit  about  the  year  1S96.  It  has  seven 
panels  and  six  niches,  and  on  the  panels  aro 
exquisitely  carved  figures,  emblematic  of 
the  unbroken  succession  of  the  divine  mission 
from  Moses  down  to  St.  Patrick— the  niches 
being  filled  with  figures  representing  Irish 
Saints.  The  Architect  was  Mr.  J.  J. 
M'Donncll,  J.P.,   Belfast. 

The  Very  Rev.  Henry  Canon  M'Neeee, 
who  was  administrator  in  Armagh  Cathedral, 
succeeded  Canon  Donnelly,  and,  in  addition 
to  having  the  Memorial  Pulpit  to  the  memory 
of  Canon  Donnelly  erected,  he  considered 
thero  was  something  wanting  to  complete  the 
Church,  and  that  something  was  a  Bell.  He 
set  to  work,  and  in  a  comparatively  short 
time  a  bell,  worthy  of  tho  Church  and 
congregation,  was  secured.  The  following 
account  of  the  inception  of  tho  project,  anu 
the  arrival  of  the  Boll,  is  taken  from  the 
IRISH  NEWS  of  the  10th  March,  1898, 
and  is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  J.  I.  Donaghy, 
B.A.,  R.U.I. ,  solicitor,  Tynagort,  Belfast, 
the  popular  Registrar  of  the  County  Court 
in  Londonderry,  whoso  family  have  been 
foremost  in  all  matters  concerning 
Catholicity,  especially  in  their  native 
district:— "The  New  Bell  for  the  Church  of 
"Our  Lady  of  tho  Assumption,  Magherafelt. 
"There  is  a  pretty  general  and  widespread 
"feeling  nowadays  that  a  Catholic  Church 
"is  never  complete  until  it  has  got  its  bell, 
"and  no  oue  will  deny  but  that  there  aro 
"good  grounds  for  this  belief.  It  matters 
"not  that  outside  tho  sacred  edifice — instinct 
"with  every  architectural  grace  and 
"beauty — 'points  with  tapering  spire  to 
"Heaven' — that  within  the  lofty  nave  and 
"spacious  aisles,  tho  marble  pillars  and 
"beautiful  Stations    of  tho    Cross,  and    the 


NEW  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

Dedicated  on  10th  September,  L882,  by 
Archbishop  M'Gettignn,  Primate  of 
Armairh. 


LATE  VERY 
REV.  PATK.  CANON  DONNELLY,  f'.I' 


W; 


LATE  VERY 
REV.  HENRY  ('AXON  M'XEEC'E,  I' 


VERY  REV.  JOHN  CANON  QU1NN,  P.l 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 


57 


"chastely  rich  decorations  generally,  are  all 
"that  the  most  fastidious  could  desire;  there 
"still  remains  a  something  wanting  to  give 
"expression  and  vitality  to  the  whole— to, 
"so  to  speak,  infuse  a  soul  into  it,  and  pro- 
claim aloud  its  existence,  and  that  soine- 
"thing  is  assuredly — a  bell.  The  unswerving 
"tenacity  with  which  Irishmen  have  through 
"all  ages  clung  to  the  Faith  of  their  fore- 
fathers, needs  no  comment;  and  their 
"inherent  love  of  music  is  known  all  the 
"world  over.  And  surely  the  two  are 
"happily  blended  in  the  tuneful  prayer  and 
"liquid  melody  of  the  'church-going  bell," 
"whose  measured  strokes  reverberate  with 
"pleasing    cadence     in     the     oars       of     Irish 

'Catholics,  whether  among  the  hills  and 
"valleys  of  the  old  country  at  home,  or  amid 
"the  cities  and  plains  of  that  greater  Ire- 
land beyond  the  sea,  built  up  and  sustained 
"by  the  efforts  of  the  many  Irishmen  who 
"dwell  unwilling  exiles  in  the  new  world. 
"It  is  but  a  few  months  ago  since  the  Very 
"Rev.  Canon  M'Neeee—  the  deservedly 
"popular  and  highly  esteemed  parish  priest 
"of  Magherafelt — suggested  that  a  suitable 
"bell  should  be  procured  for  the  Church  of 
"Our  Lady  of  the  Assumption,  and  right 
"nobly  did  his  faithful  parishioners  respond 
"to  the  call  of  their  devoted  pastor.  From 
"the  first  moment  the  matter  was  mentioned, 
"the  project  was  received  with  the  greatest 
"enthusiasm.  A  Committee  was  imrae- 
"diately  formed — over  one-third  of  the 
"entire  cost  was  subscribed  at  the  first 
"meeting,  and  since  then  parishioners  of  all 
"classes  have  vied  with  each  other  in  pouring 
"in  their  generous  and  voluntary  sub- 
scriptions. Canon  M'Neeee,  with 
"characteristic  zeal  and  energy,  at  once 
"entered  into  negotiations  with  Mr.  Byrne, 
"of  the  Fountain  Head  Hell  Foundry, 
"Dublin,  with  the  satisfactory  result- that  in 
"a  few  days  a  magnificent  bell,  weighing 
"almost  two  tons,  arrived  in  due  course  at 
"Magherafelt  Railway  Station.  From 
"thence  it  was  conveyed  to  the  Catholic 
"Church  under  the  personal  supervision  of 
"Mr.  Byrne's  foreman,  and  escorted  by  an 
"enthusiastic  crowd  of  close  upon  three 
"hundred  parishioners,  all  anxious  to  assist 
"in  the  good  work.  Arrived,  on  the  spot, 
"willing  hands  soon  placed  it  in  position, 
"just  outside  the  porch  at  the  tower  door, 
"where  it  remained  over  night,  silently 
"waiting,  like  some  primeval  Catechumen 
"of  old  for  admission  to    within    the    sacred 

'precints  of  the  Church.  It  would  be  ont- 
"side  the  compass  of  this  brief  notice  to  enter 
"into  any  descriptive  details  of  the  bell. 
"These  are  reserved  for  another  occasion. 
"Suffice  to  say  that  it  is  a  magnificent 
"specimen  of  the  bell-founder's  art — perfect 
"in  every  respect — and  that  it  will  bo 
"mounted  on  the  'patent  rotary  iron  and 
"steel  mountings,'  of  which  Mr.  Byrne 
"makes     a     speciality.     The     bell     will     bo 


"solemnly  blessed  by  his  Eminence  Cardinal 
"Logue,  and  High  Mass  will  be  celebrated 
"(Coram  Pontifice)  on  next  Sunday  at  11 
"o'clock.  When  we  add  that  the  sermon  on 
"the  occasion  will  be  preached  by  the  Rev. 
"John  Quinn,  Adm.,  Armagh,  whose  repu- 
tation as  an  eloquent  preacher  is  already 
^'firmly  established.  We  feel  that  enough 
"has  been  said  to  show  that  the  occasion 
"will  bo  a  memorable  one,  and  one  which 
"should  not  be  missed  by  any  who  can 
"possibly  attend.  It  should  perhaps  be 
"mentioned  that  there  will  not  be  any 
"collection  taken  up,  and  that  the  tickets  for 
"admission  are  marked  at  the  extremely 
"moderate  figures  of  2s  Gd  and  Is  each,  with 
"a.  limited  number  of  specially  reserved 
"places  at  5s..  It  is  safe  to  predict  that  an 
"immense  concourse  will  assemble  at  tho 
"Church  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Assumption  on 
"Sunday,  to  listen  to  the  eloquent  discourse 
"of  the  talented  preacher,  and  to  co-operate 
"with  Ireland's  Cardinal-Primate  in  doing 
"honour  to  the  great  occasion.  Those  who 
"do  so  will  have  every  reason  to  congratulate 
"themselves  on  having  mado  the  necessary 
"effort  to  be  present.  They  will  'learn  the 
"luxury  of  doing  good,"  and  they  will 
"experience  the  exquisite  feelings  so  beauti- 
"fully  described  by  one  of  our  sweetest  Irish 
poets,  when  : — 
' tolled     with  a  rapid     vibration,   with  a 

melody  silvery  and  strong; 
The  bell  from  the  sound-shaken   belfry  shall 

ring  out  its  first  maiden  song  ; 
Not  now  for  the  dead   or  the  living,   or  the 

triumphs  of  peace  or  of  strife  ; 
But   a  quick,  joyous  outburst  of  jubilee,   full 

of  its  newly-felt  life. 
Rapid,  more  rapid,  the  clapper  rebounds  from 

the  round  of  the  lull- 
Far  and     more  far     through  the     valley  tho 

intertwined  melodies  swell — 
Quivering     and     broken       the       atmosphere 

trembles   and   twinkles   around, 
Liko  the  eyes  and  the     hearts  of  tho  hearers, 

that  glisten  and  beat  to  the  sound." 

The  ceremony  of  blessing  the  new  Bell  took 
place  on  Saturday,  12th  March,  1898.  Tho 
"Daily  Nation"  of  March  14,  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  the  proceedings,  from 
which  we  learn  that  his  Eminenco  Cardinal 
Logue  arrived  in  Magherafelt  at  a  quarter 
past  eleven  o'clock,  a.m.,  on  the  12th, 
accompanied  by  tlia  Rev.  E.  MacAleavey, 
C.C.,  Cookstown.  He  was  met  at  the  Rail- 
way Station  by  the  Very  Rev.  Canon 
M'Neeee,  P.P.,  Magherafelt,  and  the  Rev. 
Thomas  M'  Williams,  C.C  His  Eminence 
at  once  proceeded  to  the  Church  and 
solemnly  blessed  the  bell,  which  was  being 
erected  with  all  the  prayers  and  ceremonies 
prescribed  in  the  pontiiicial,  in  presence  of  a 
very  large  congregation.  He  was  assisted 
by  tho  clergymen  already  named,  and  by  the 


58 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Rev.  Hugh  M'Cooey,  P.P.,  Ballinderry,  and 
the  Rev.     J.  A.    M'Oscar.      The     Bell     has 
inscribed    on    it: — 
"SUM   SIGNUM     BEATAE     MARIAE  IN 

"COELUM  ASSUMPTAE  SONANS  IN 

NOMINE  CHRIST!." 
It  cost  about    £450,  every     penny     of     which 
was       spontaneously       subscribed       by       the 
parishioners. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  sacred  function 
his  Eininene,  accompanied  by  Canon 
M'Neece,  drove  away  to  visit  the  new  Schools 
then  recently  erected  in  the  Newbridge 
district  of  Magherafelt  Parish.  The  Schools 
were  situated  about  a  mile  from  t1"' 
Church  of  St.  Trea,  which  bad  been  dedicated 
in  1897,  and  afford  accommodation  for  250 
male  and  female  children.  The  Schools  were 
erected  at  a  cost  of  about  £1,500,  on  a  site 
kindly  granted  by  the  landlord,  Mr.  A.  D. 
Gaussen,  Ballvronan,  and  wore  a  splendid 
momument  to  the  indofatiagble  zeal  and 
energy  of  the  rev.  pastor,  Very  Rev.  Canon 
M'Neece,  P.P.,  who  had  achieved  much  for 
the  cause  of  religion  and  education  since  he 
took  charge  of  the  parish. 

His  Eminence,  who  was  met  by  a  vast 
concourse  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  district, 
headed  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Rogers,  CO., 
made  a  minute  inspection  of  the  Schools,  and 
expressed  himself  highly  pleased  with  them 
in  every  respect.  Addressing  the  people 
assembled,  he  referred  to  a  visit  he  paid  to 
that  district  about  a  year  previous,  when  he 
found  the  old  School,  which  was  to  be 
replaced  by  the  new  buildings,  in  such  a 
delapidated  condition  that  it  did  not  even 
afford  protection  to  the  children  from  the 
snow  and  the  rain.  He  pointed  out  that  the 
poople  had  now  educational  facilities  within 
their  reach,  which  their  forefathers  never 
had,  and  earnestly  exorted  them  to  take 
advantage  of  those  facilities  by  sending  their 
children        regularly        to  School.         The 

multitude  reverently  kneeling  received  the 
blessing  of  his  Eminence  ,who  then  returned 
to  the  residence  of  Canon  M'Neece. 

The  following  day,  Sunday,  at  11  o'clock. 
High  Mass — coram  pontifiee — was  celebrated 
in  the  Church  in  Magherafelt,  which  was 
filled  with  a  devout  congregation — many  of 
whom  came  from  a  distance  for  the  in- 
auguration of  the  New  Bell.  His  Eminence 
the  Cardinal  Primate  presided.  The  Cele- 
brant was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Rogers,  C.C., 
Magherafelt,  the  Rev  Alex.  M'Peake,  C.C., 
Moneymore,  was  deacon;  Rev.  N.  Speer, 
C.C.,  Ballinderry,  sub-deacon,  and  the  Rev. 
J.  A.  M'Oscar,  late  of  Maynooth  College, 
master  of  ceremonies.  The  assistants  at  the 
throne  were  the  Very  Rev.  Thomas  Canon 
Rice,  P.P.,  Cookstown,  and  the    Very     Rev. 


Canon  Henry  M'Neece,  P.P.,  Magherafelt. 
The  other  clergy'  present  were  the  Very 
Rev.  Charles  Quinu,  P.P.,  V.E.,  Duneane; 
Rev.  Thomas  M'Williams,  C,C,  Maghera- 
felt; Rev.  Peter  M'Namee,  P.P.,  Bellaghy ; 
Rev.  Francis  M'Geown,  Bellaghy;  Rev. 
Thomas  Larkin,  P.P.,  Moneymore ;  Rev. 
Peter  Kearney,  Bellaghy;  '  Rev.  Peter 
MMullan,  P.P.,  Coagh;  Rev.  Father  M'Kee, 
O.C.,  Lissan,  and  Rev.  Wm.  O'Conncll,  C.C., 
Duneane. 

Amongst  the  laity  present  were  Messrs. 
F.  M'Glade,  Adelaide  Park,  Belfast;  L. 
Byrne,  Land  Commissioner;  James  Grant, 
Toomebridge;  J.  O'Connell,  National  School 
♦Inspector,  Castledawson  ;  Louis  Walsh, 
Maghera;  Michael  M'Kenna,  Greenisland 
House,  Creagh  ;  James  Harbison,  J. P., 
Magherafelt;  John  Harbison,  solicitor,  do.; 
Wm.  Harbison,  J. P.,  do.;  Dr.  F.  Auterson, 
J. P.,  do.;  James  Kilroe,  J. P.,  do.;  Felix 
Ferran,  J. P.,  do.;  Joseph  I.  Donaghy,  B.A., 
solicitor,  do.  ;  Robert  M'Guckin,  solicitor, 
do.  ;  John  M'Namee,  do.  ;  .John  Walsh 
(Hotel),  do.;  Lawrence  Higgins,  J. P.,  do.; 
John  H.  Donaghy,  do.;  11.  M'Nicholl,  do.; 
Head-Constable  Timony,  John  Glenano, 
Patrick  Fullen,  Patrick  Keenan,  Samuel 
Kelly,  Peter  M'Kenna,  Joseph  M'Menamin, 
Thomas  Larkin,  etc.,  etc. 

The  music  of  the  Mass,  which  was  very 
creditably  performed  by  the  parochial 
Choir,  under  the  able  conductorship  of  Mr. 
M.  J.  O'Neill,  consisted  of  Leonard's 
Kyrie  in  E.  flat  ;  Credo,  Sanotus,  and 
Agnus  Dei;  Liscombe's  Tantum  Ergo,  and 
Beethoven's  O  Salutaris.  The  Soloists 
were  Miss  Lizzie  M'Mullen  and  Miss  Kate 
O'Neill  (sopranos),  Mr.  John  M'Mullan 
(tenor),   and  Mr.   Peter   O'Kane   (baritone.) 

The  visitors  were  greatly  impressed  with 
the  rare  architectural  proportions  and  beauty 
of  the  Church,  its  handsome  altars  and 
pulpits,  its  chaste  and  artistic  decorations, 
its  commodious  furniture  and  general 
equipments. 

An  eloquent  and  impressive  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Quinn,  Adm., 
Armagh— now  the  Rev.  John  Canon  Quinn, 
P.P.,  the  popular  pastor  of  the  Parishes  of 
Magherafelt  and  Ardtrea  North — who  took 
for  his  text  the  Gospel  for  the  day— Luke, 
11th  chap.,  14th  to  28th  verses.  His 
Eminence  the  Cardinal  gave  Benediction 
in  the  evening. 

The  tone  of  the  Bell  (which  is  heard  at  the 
furthest  extremity  of  the  parish)  is  very 
soft  and  mellow,  the  resonance  continuing 
for  a  considerable  time  after  the  stroke. 
And  the  welcome  notes,  rich  mellow,  musical, 
floating  out  calmly  for  the  fust  time  on  the 
clear,     crisp     morning     air,     gladdened  the 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 


:/.) 


hearts  of  the  worthy  Catholics  of  Maghera- 
fclt — for  with  that  addition,  their  magnifi- 
cent Church,  of  which  they  feel  justly  pi  uid, 
may  be  said  to  bo  quite  completed  a:  d  fully 
equipped. 

Canon  M'Neece  died  in  1901,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  Canon  Quinn,  who  has 
been  most  indefatiguable  for  the  welfare  of 
the  Church  and  people.  In  1904  he 
succeeded  in  having  put  in  stained  glass 
windows,  by  Mayer  and  Co.,  Munich,  at  a 
cost  of  '£370^  which  are  considered 
masterpieces  of  beauty.  In  1907  a  beautiful 
new  Marble  Altar  was  erected  and  dedicated 
to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus.  It  was  .sup- 
plied by  Signor  Luigi  Tommasi,  Carara, 
Italy,  at  a  cost  of  £419  2s  9d,  the  architects 
being  Ashlane  and  Coleman,  Dublin.  The 
system  of  heating  the  Church  by  hut  air  was 
found  unsatisfactory,  and  it  has  been 
replaced  by  Musgrave  and  Cos.  low  pressure 
water  system  with  radiators,  at  a  cost  of 
£383  2s  Od,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Lawrence  Biggins, 
J. P.  Three  new  Cathedral  lamps  (similar  to 
those  at  Armagh  Cathedral)  have  been 
supplied  at  a  cost  of  £48  and,  in  addition, 
£200  has  been  spent  on  minor  repairs  both 
inside  and   outside. 

Three  handsome  windows  were  erected  in 
1898  bv  Mr.  William  M'Kenna,  of  Clones,  in 
memory  of  Charles  M'Kenna  and  Mary  his 
wife,  and  their  children. 

The  Church  is  now  nearly  replete  in  every 
respect.  It  only  wants  a  High  Altar  and  an 
organ,  and  the  grounds  are  in  excellent 
condition. 

In  1913  a  Curate  Residence  was  erected, 
on  the  Aughrim  Road,  which  supplied  a  Ion;; 
felt  want.  It  is  a  most  substantial  building, 
and  is  equipped  with  every  conceivable  con- 
venience. 

The  Curates  who  officiated  in  the  new 
Church  wore  Revs.  J.  Mullan,  J  Qninn, 
P.  J.  O'Callaghan,  T.  M'Williams,  T.  Itogcrs, 
John  O'Brien,  Henry  Callan,  and  John  Hook, 
and  the  present  Curates,  P.  Moore  and  .1. 
Caraher. 

The  Organist  and  Choir  Master  is  Mr. 
Matthew  J.  O'Neill,  N.T.,  in  which  offioe  he 
has  been  eminently  successful,  the  music  on 
all  occasions  being  very  efficiently  and  tune- 
fully rendered,  for  which  he  has'  repeatedly 
been  complimented. 

The  other  Catholic  Church  in  connection 
with  Magherafe.lt  is  that  of  St.  Trea,  situ- 
ated at  Newbridge.  There  is  a  legend  that 
St.  Patrick  crossed  Toome  Ford  and  visited 
the  district  to  preach  the  Gospel.  When  ho 
arrived  he  found  two  brothers  lords  of  the 
territory.       The  older  brother  refused  him  a 


plot  for  his  church,  but  the  younger  one  re- 
ceived him  with  kindness  and  placed  land  at 
his  disposal,  on  which,  it  is  said,  St.  Patrick 
built  seven  churches  between  the  mountain 
and  the  lake.  He  spent  forty  days  around 
Newbridge,  and  was  so  pleased  with  the  dis- 
trict that  he  meditated  making  it  his  own 
residence.  He  blessed  the  generous  chief- 
tain and  his  wifo.and  the  child  that  was  to  be 
born  to  them.  After  a  lapse  of  about  twenty 
years  ho  returned  to  the  district  to  find  the 
maiden  who  had  been  bom  to  the  chieftain 
She  received  her  religious  profession,  and 
from  heaven  there  dropped  down  a  veil  on 
her  face,  covering  her  eyes  and  her  features. 
St.  Patrick  wished  to  raise  the  veil,  but  she 
was  not  willing,  and  he  left  it  as  it  was,  so 
that  no  man  beheld  her  dove-like  eyes  or  the 
bloom  of  her  cheeks  from  that  day  till  the 
day  of  her  death.  That  maiden  was  St. 
Trea,  for  whom  St.  Patrick  built  the  church, 
and  which  gave  the  name  of  that  parish. 
How  long  that  church  remained  or  how  many 
churches  were  re-erected  on  that  place  is 
not  definitely  known.  The  present  church 
of  St.  Trea  was  dedicated  about  the  latter 
end  of  September  or  beginning  of  October, 
1896,  by  his  Eminence  Cardinal  Logue.  The 
then  existing  church  was  altered  by  the 
addition  of  two  transepts,  sacristy,  and  apse, 
which  made  it  almost  a  new  edifice,  with 
very  much  larger  seating  accommodation, 
having  a  caaacity  for  holding  one  thousand 
people.  It  is  cruciform  in  plan,  and  consists 
of  nave,  transepts,  and  semi-octagonal  apse, 
its  total  length  being  118  feet,  across 
transepts  74  feet  wide,  and  across  nave  34 
feet.  The  principal  entrance  is  by  a 
projecting  porch  at  the  west  end,  from 
which  the  staircase  to  the  gallery  is 
approached,  and  the  transepts  have  each  a 
separate  entrance.  The  gallery  is  built  to 
seat  over  one  hundred,  and  in  it  the  choir 
is  placed.  At  the  north  end  of  the  sanctuary 
is  a  commodious  sacristy  fitted  with  every 
requisite.  The  nave  is  lighted  by  two  light 
mullioned  and  traceried  windows,  each 
transept  by  three  lancet  lights,  and  the 
sanctuary  by  six  two-light  windows,  and  all 
glazed  with  a  pretty  pattern  of  lead  lights 
of  various  coloured  glass.  The  west  gable 
is  pierced  by  three  single  light  windows,  and 
on  this  gable  is  the  bell  turret,  which  has 
preserved  in  it  the  rich  fine-toned  bell  of  the 
old  church.  The  high  altar,  which  is  of 
wood,  is  of  noble  design  and  proportions,  and 
which  at  the  dedication  service  was  very 
tastefully  decorated  with  flowers  and  candles. 
The  sanctuary  rail  is  of  canary  wood  fram- 
ing with  mahogany  capping,  crisped  and 
carved  heads  and  columns,  and  altogether  of 
a  pleasing  design.  The  roof  is  an  open 
timber  one,  having  pitch-pine  principals, 
with  carved  braces  and  white  wood  sheeting, 
divided  into  compartments  by  moulded  ribs 
and  cornices.  The  passages  of  the  church 
are  laid  with  encaustic  tiling.     New  benches 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


and  confessionals  complete  the  internal  fit- 
tings of  the  church.  The  architect  was  Mr. 
J.  J.  M'Donnell,  J.P.,  M.R.I.A.I.,  Belfast, 
and  the  contractor  was  Mr.  D.  M'Naughten, 
of  Randalstown  and  Lurgan.  The  internal 
decorations  were  carried  out  by  Mr.  Boyle, 
decorator,  Cookstown.  The  church  is  now 
one  of  the  neatest  and  nicest  in  appearance 
in  the  country,  which  is  especially  gratifying 
to  the  faithful  Catholics  in  the  district  'Tho 
old  building  has  been  replaced  by  one  which 
will  compare  in  finish  with  more  pretentious 
structures.  The  result  was  due  very  hugely 
to  the  deep  religious  zeal  of  Canon  M'Neece, 
who  spared  no  efforts  to  provide  the  district 
with  that  style  of  church  accommodation 
suited  to  the  needs  of  the  people.  The  entire 
amount  subscribed  in  connection  with  the 
dedication  was  £1,100,  which  not  only  placed 
the  church  free  of  debt,  but  permitted  a  sub- 
stantial balance  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a 
fund  for  the  erection  of  the  new  schools-  In 
his  zealous  work  Canon  M'Neece  received  tho 
able  assistance  of  his  curates,  Rev.  T. 
M'Williams  and  T.  Rogers.  His  Eminence 
Cardinal  Logue  also  lent  his  powerful  aid, 
and  by  personal  interest  and  exhortation  to 
his  people  contributed  very  largely  to  tho 
result.  The  people  of  the  district  certainly 
deserve  all  praise  for  the  manner  they  not 
only  on  that  occasion,  but  on  many  others, 
displayed  that  love  of  faith  which  is  so  firmly 
planted  in  them.  And  to  such  a  people  the 
erection  of  a  new  church  was  oidy  a  labour  of 
love,  and  tho  satisfaction  of  worshipping 
there  is  to  them  a  recompense  of  the  greatest 
possible  character. 

The  dedication  ceremony  began  at  eleven 
o'clock,  after  which  High  Mass  was  cele- 
brated in  the  presence  of  his  Eminence 
Cardinal  Loguo  and  the  Most  Rev.  Dr. 
Healy,  Bishop  of  Clonfert.  The  Cardinal 
was  assisted  at  the  throne  by  Very  Rev. 
Canon  Coyne,  P.P.,  Keady,  ami  the  Very 
Rev.  Canon  Rice,  P.P.,  V.F.,  Cookstown. 
High  Mass  was  celebrated  by  Rev.  II. 
M'Oscar,  P.P.,  Moy;  Rev.  T.  Rogers,  C.C., 
Magherafelt,  deacon;  Rev.  M.  Mackle,  CC, 
Upper  Killeavy,  sub-deacon;  Rev.  J.  Quinn, 
Adm.,  Armagh ;  and  Rev.  A.  M'l'eake, 
Moneymore,  master  of  ceremonies. 

The  remaining  clorgy  present  were — Right 
Rev.  Monscignor  M'Gurk,  P.P.,  Maghcra  ; 
Very  Rev-  Canon  M'Geeney,  P.P.,  Crossma- 
glen  ;  Rev.  J.  Loughran,  P.P.,  Arboe;  Rev. 
P.  Callan,  P.P.,  Errigal  Trungh;  Rev.  T.  J. 
Larkin,  PP.,  Moneymore;  Rev.  J.  M'Coey, 
P.P.,  Ballinderry;  Rev.  M.  O'Donnell,  P.P., 
Loughgall;  Very  Rev.  C.  Quinn,  P.P.,  Dun- 
eane;  Rev.  P  O'Kane,  P.P.,  Lavcy  ;  Rev. 
T.  M'Williams,  C.C.,  Magherafelt;  Rev.  B. 
O'Connor,  C.C.,  Portadown;  Rev.  C.  Mon- 
tague, C.C,  Ballinderry;  Rev.  H.  Mackin, 
C.C.,  Newcastle-on-Tyne ;  Rev.  Father 
Digney,  CC,  Duneane;  Rev.  Father 
O'Sullivan,  C.C,  Duneane;  Rev.  Father 
Kearney,  O.C-,  Bellaghy. 

An  eloquent  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Most  Rev.  Dr.  Healy,  Bishop    of     Clonfert, 


who  took  for  his  text— "This  is  the  house  of 
the  Lord,  firmly  built,  well  founded  on  tho 
solid  rock."  The  music  was  admirably 
rendered  by  the  Magherafelt"  Choir,  under 
the  leadership  of  Mr.  M.  J.  O'Neill. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  the  collec- 
tion was  taken  up,  the  collectors  being- 
Messrs.  J.  J.  M'Donnell,  J  P.,  Belfast;  R. 
M'Guckin,  solicitor,  Magherafelt ;  E. 
Connelly,  Belfast  ;  James  Harbison,  J. P., 
Magherafelt;  John  Donaghy,  Magherafelt; 
Felix  Ferran,  J.P.,  Magherafelt;  John 
Harbison,  solicitor,  Magherafelt;  J.  I. 
Donaghy,  B.A.,  solicitor,  Magherafelt; 
James  Kilroe,  J.P.,  Magherafelt;  William 
Hiubison,  J. P.,  Magherafelt;  J.  Toner. 
Belfast;  A.  Connelly,  Belfast  John  O'Kane, 
Ballymcna;  P.  Comjelly,  Bellast;  Owen 
M'Erlanc,  Duneane ;  B.  Rogers,  Drapers- 
town  ;  Louis  Walsh,  Maghera ;  Thomas  J.  S. 
Harbison,  solicitor,  Cookstown;  James 
Bradley,  Belfast;  John  Keenan,  JP.. 
Leitrim. 

The  people  of  Newbridge  contributed 
almost  £500,  the  largest  subscribers  being 
Robert  M'Williams,  £7;  Henry  Diamond, 
£7;  Denis  M'Keever,  £6;  Henry  Shiels, 
late  Nicholas  Mulholland,  Michael  M'Kenna, 
J. P.  and  Hugh  M'Geary,  subscribed  £5  10s 
each;  William  Gribben,  Henry  Walls,  Pat- 
rick M'Kenna,  James  Murphy,  Patrick 
Devlin,  William  Logan  and  Robert  Cudden, 
£.5  each  ;  John  Mackle,  £1  10s  ;  Bernard 
Devlin,  Patrick  Mulholland,  £4  7s  each  ; 
Henry  Walls,  jun.;  Edward  O'Neill  £4  5s 
each;  Patrick  Devlin,  £4  2s  Cd  ;  Manus 
M'Grogan,  Mrs.  Patrick  Hurl,  and  per 
Sergeant  Thomas  Fenncll,  R.I.C.,  Tulla- 
im.ro,  £4  each;  Robert  M'Lernon,  £3  10s; 
Michael  Martin,  G3  5s;  John  M'Lernon, 
£3  2s  6d.  The  remaining  were  from  £3 
down.  Cardinal  Loguo  gave  £10;  Canon 
M'Neece,  £25;  and  Very  Rev.  B-  Murphy, 
P.P.,  Carrickmore,  £10.  Amongst  the 
others  who  subscribed  were  late  Mr.  R. 
M'Guckin,  solicitor,  £15;  James  Kilroe, 
J.P.,  late  John  M'Nnmee,  Felix  Ferran, 
J. P.,  late  Joseph  M'Menamin,  and  J. 
O'Connel,  Inspector  National  Schools, Castle- 
dawson,  £5  each;  John  Harbison,  solicitor, 
£3  3s;  Lawrence  Higgins,  J  P.,  and  late 
James  Harbison,  J. P.,  £3  each;  J.  I. 
Domudiv,  B.A.,  solicitor,  £2  2s;  John 
Donaghy,  £2;  Mr.  M'Donnel,  J. P.,  architect, 
Belfast,' £10;  Alex.  Connolly  and  E.  Con- 
nolly, £5  each;  John  Keenan,  J  P.,  Leitrim, 
£2."  A  large  amount  was  also  received 
through  natives  of  Newbridge  in  America, 
Scotland,  England,  and  Australia.  A  com- 
modious curate's  residence  has  also  been 
provided,  in  which  the  popular  curate,  Rev 
P.  Moore,  resides.  The  ground  on  which 
the  house  is  built  on  was  the  gift  of  Lady 
Spencer  Chichester.  The  people  of  Now- 
bridge  are  to  be  complimented  on  the  fine 
church  and  residence  which  they  now 
possess. 


THE  PAINEY  SCHOOL 


Though  Maglierafelt  cannot  lay  claim  to 
being  a  ccnimcrci  il  centre  of  much  im- 
portance, yet  it  can     boast  of  having  one  of 

the  most  successful  secondary  schools  in 
Ulster  at  the  present  time.  The  founder, 
Mr.  Hugh  Ilainey,  was  one  of  the  residents 
of  the  town  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  and  early  portion  of  the 
eighteenth  centuries.  lie  was  possessed  of 
considerable  wealth,  and  occupied  a  good 
social  position,  being  one  of  the  Grand 
Jurors  of  the  County  from  1695  till  1703. 
He  became  imbued  with  the  idea  of  doing 
what  he  could  to  enable  the  poor  lads  of  his 
native  town  to  fit  themselves  to  successfully 
fight  the  battle  of  life  by  placing  within 
their  reach  the  advantages  of  free  educa- 
tion and  the  learning  of'  suitable  trades. 
By  his  will,  which  was  dated  11th  April, 
1707,  he  bequeathed  his  estate  to  trustees, 
Thomas  Ash  and  John  Haiucy,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  a  suitable  school-house 
built  in  Maglierafelt,  into  which  his 
executors  should,  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, 1713,  put  eight  boys,  and  in  each  succeed- 
ing year,  in  the  same  month,  eight  boys, 
sons  of  parents  who  were  of  good  repute 
and  reduced  to  poverty.  The  boys  so  ad- 
mitted were  to  be  clothed  and  fed  in  the 
house  appointed  for  that  purpose  for  three 
years.  In  the  month  of  November,  1716, 
and  in  each  succeeding  year,  eight  of  the 
said  boys  so  taught  and  maintained,  were 
to  be  bound  to  such  trade  or  occupation  as 
was  judged  most  fit  for  his  genius,  and 
given  a  suit  of  new  clothes,  an  apprentice 
fee  of  fifty  shillings  in  money,  and  put  in- 
to a  family  of  good  repute.  Eight  boys  so 
qualified  were  to  be  put  out  and  eight  put 
in  by  his  executors  at  November  in  rvery 
year  for  ever,  but  if  the  income  of  one- 
half  of  the  estate  should  not  be  a  sufficient 
fund  for  the  support  of  so  many  poor  boys, 
then  their  number  was  to  be  reduced  to  so 
many  as  could  bo  decently  brought  up. 
He  also  directed  that  two  old,  grave,  and 
good  men,  known  Christians,  such  as 
really  feared  God,  and  were  qualified  to 
read'  the  Scriptures  to  the  boys,  sing 
psalms,  and  pray  morning  and  evening, 
should  be  appointed,  and  if  they  were 
found  defective  or  unablo  to  perform  those 
duties  they  were  to  be  outed  and  ethers 
written  for  to  the  Presbytery  of  *  lster, 
which  was  to  find  capable  men  to  instruct 
the  youths.  The  old  men  sv?re  to  bo 
clothed,  to  diet  with  the  boys,  and  be 
over  them-  And,  further,  if  it  should 
happen  that  either  the  old  men  or  any  of 
the  boys  did  not     behave  as     expected,   the 


executors,  or  such  as  were  only  life-i  -liters 
of  his  estate,  were  empowered  t"  turn 
them  out  and  put  in  such  as  should  be 
deserving.  He  also  left  £5  a  year  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  of  'he  J'ansh  of 
Maglierafelt,  £5  annually  to  the  Presby- 
terian minister  of  Maglierafelt,  and  £2  yearly 
for  the  encouragement  of  a  schoolmaster  to 
teach  the  poor  orphans,  or  such  as  should  not 
be  able  to  pay.  He  further  bequeathed  all  his 
worldly  concerns  upon  trust  to  his 
executors,  who  were  to  realise  same  and 
to  lay  out  the  money  upon  the  purchase  of 
a  freehold  estate  of  the  annual  ralu*  of 
£400,  one  half  to  go  to  certain  ef  his 
relatives,  and  the  other  half  to  le  devr  n-d 
and  set  apart  tor  pious  uses  for  ever,  viz., 
the  providing  of  a  school,  etc.  The  follow- 
ing was  his  estimate  of  the  cost  of  main- 
taining, etc.,  of  the  boys:  — 

Yearly. 
24  boys  maintenance,   £3  each  1  72 

24  boys'  suits,  £1  5s  30 

Apprentice   fee,   8  boys  20 

8  suits  for   apprentices  10 

For  firing  and  candles  8 

For  two  women  to  wash  clothes  and 

dress  meat  G 

There  were  to  be  two  tables,  at  each  of 
which  twelve  boys  were  to  sit,  and  one  of 
the  old  men  at  each  table,  wdio  were  to 
have  their  eyes  on  the  boys,  and  if  any 
were  wicked  the  old  men  were  to  put  them 
out  and  to  put  others  in.  Ho  left  the 
management  of  the  stock  of  Ballindcrry 
(Salterstown)  and  his  own  forge  to  his  son 
Ash,  and  directed  him  to  get  the  stocks  of 
the  several  forges  valued  and  kept  going, 
especially  his  own  forge  at  Killinksey,  for 
seven  "years.  He  recommended  two 
executors  to  consult  able  counsel  to  draw 
up  a  short  Act  of  Parliament  to  confirm  his 
will,  so  that  it  would  be  out  of  the  power 
of  any  that  should  be  entrusted  with  his 
property  to  mis-apply  same. 

Hugh  Raincy  was  a  Presbyterian  and  a 
ruling  elder  in'  Castlcdawson  congregation 
(Maglierafelt  at  that  date  not  having  been 
formed  into  a  separate  congregation).  He 
died  very  shortly  after  making  his  will,  and 
Probate  was  granted  on  the  19th  May, 
1708,  to  Thomas  Ash  and  John  Painey,  the 
executors.  They  disposed  of  the  estate, 
and  in  1713  they  built  a  schoolhouse  in 
Maglierafelt,  upon  portion  of  the  Salters' 
Estate,  and  also  acquired  a  farm  of  about 
12  acres  for  the  purpose  of  the  school, 
which  they  held  at  a  yearly  rent. 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


It  would  appear  that  the  two  executors 
died  without  having  fully  carried  out  the 
trusts  which  then  devolved  upon  Thomas 
Ash,  a  nephew,  who  became  the  life 
tenant.  Ho  purchased  tho  freehold  estate 
in  County  Down  known  as  "The  Ten 
Towns  of  Lecale,"  which  comprise*]  2,529 
acres  of  the  richest  land  in  that  county  for 
£6,545,  subject  to  tho  yearly  rent  of  £5. 
Tho  purchase  money,  it  seems,  exceeded  the 
available  fund  of  the  trust  estate,  which 
amounted  to  £4,064,  and  he  borrowed  the 
balance,  £2,481,  on  mortgage.  The  estate 
was  then  valued  at  £400.  Thomas  Ash 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  John  Ash,  who 
adopted  tho  name  of  llainey,  and  at  his 
death  his  brother  William  succeeded.  He 
also  adopted  the  name  of  Itainey.  In  1738 
William  Ash  llainey  obtained  a  private  Act 
of  the  Irish  Parliament  to  make  the  will 
more  effectual — which  Hugh  Itainey  had 
directed  to  be  obtained.  This  Act  made 
certain  provisions  for  the  management  and 
letting  of  the  lands,  and  directed  that  in 
lieu  of  tho  moiety  of  the  estate,  the  lands 
stand  charged  with  tho  yearly  rent  of  £175 
(Irish),  equivalent  to  £161  l*3s  9d  present 
currency,  payable  to  His  Grace  High  Lord 
Archbishop  of  Armagh  and  Primate  of  All 
Ireland,  for  the  supporting,  maintaining, 
educating,  and  placing  out  to  trades  or 
occupation  twenty-four  boys  tinder  the 
trust,  and  subject  to  the  nomination  pro- 
vided in  the  will.  This  was  confirmation 
of  the  testator's  will,  "in  order  that 
it  might  be  out  of  the  power  of  any  that 
should  be  entrusted  with  his  property  to 
mis-apply  the  same."  Thus  by  the  Act  of 
Parliament  the  real  control  of  tho  charity 
passed  from  the  descendants  of  the  testator 
to  tho  Primato  of  All  Ireland  for  the  time 
being.  It  would  seem  that  Primato  Boytl 
who  had  great  weight,  probably  assisted  in 
having  the  Act  passed,  but  it  did  not 
appear  that  any  succeeding  Primate  availed 
himself  of  the  control  thus  vested  in  him. 
Ono  rector  of  Magherafelt,  l)r.  Barnard, 
seems  to  have  checked  the  accounts  for 
some  years  on  behalf  of  Primate  Robinson, 
but  it  was  soon  abandoned.  The  Ash 
family  continued  to  manage  tho  school. 
The  farm  of  12  acres  was  laboured  by  the 
children,  and  the  school  was  maintained  by 
Miss  E.  Ash,  grand-daughter  of  tho 
executor,  whose,  brother,  Mr.  James  Ash 
Rainey,  was  a  confectioner  in  Capel  Street, 
Dublin.  He  subsequently  dispossesed  his 
sister,  and  assumed  the  management, 
residing  in  the  school  and  receiving  the  in- 
come till  his  death.  It  appears  lw  was  ad- 
vanced in  years  and  addicted  to  drink,  and 
very  few  children  were  in  attendance  at 
the  school,  which  was  not  well  managed. 
He  died  in  December,  1847,  and  his  rights 
were  claimed  by     his    grand-son,  Mr.     John 


Ash  GaiiBsen.  Tho  late  Rev.  Charles  King» 
Irwin,  shortly  after  his  appointment  as 
rector  of  Magherafelt  in  18-14,  obtained 
access  to  the  will  and  Act  of  Parliament. 
He  then  found  that  certain  Primates  had 
evidently  not  fully  appreciated  their  posi- 
tion under  the  Act  of  Parliament,  and  ho 
submitted  to  the  then  Primate  that 
the  estate  out  of  which  the  charity  was  ob- 
tained was  limited  to  the  male  issue  of  the 
sons  of  the  testator's  executor,  and  failing 
them,  to  the  male  issue  of  his  daughters, 
that  John  Ash  Rainey  was  the  last  male 
representative  of  the  testator,  that 
the  Act  of  Parliament  made  tho  Lord 
Primate  the  receiver  of  the  rent  charges, 
and  he  was  charged  with  the  maintaining, 
etc.,  of  the  boys.  His  Grace  took  the 
opinion  of  Richard  B.  Warren,  Q.C.,  who 
gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  property 
having  passed  into  the  hands  of  strangers, 
the  entire  management  of  the  charity 
devolved  upon  the  Primate.  The  Rev.  C. 
K.  Irwin,  on  the  23rd  April,  1848,  mado  a 
formal  demand  for  the  school,  which  he 
received,  and  though  two  violent  attempts 
were  made  to  forcibly  recover  possession, 
he  held  it.  Tho  rent  roll  then  amounted 
to  £161  10s  9i,  which  had  been  collected  by 
Sir  Robert  Bateson,  Bart.,  but  he  declined 
to  take  any  future  action  in  collecting  it 
when  the  Primate  took  the  matter  in  hands. 

The  Rev.  C-  K.  Irwin  suggested  to  tho 
Primate  that  as  there  could  not  be,  any 
longer,  a  person  residing  in  the  School  as 
superintendent,  distinct  and  separate  from 
tho  Schoolmaster,  the  farm  be  given  rent 
free  to  the  Schoolmaster  with  liberty  for 
him  to  employ  the  labour  of  the  boys;  that 
he  should  have  a  stated  salary  and  a  small 
allowance  for  each  boy  in  aid  of  maintenance, 
and  that  the  rent  charge  be  employed  in 
defraying  those  charges,  together  with  the 
expenses  of  clothing  and  apprenticing  and 
keeping  the  fabric  of  the  School  in  repair. 
The  Primate  approved  of  these  suggestions, 
and  recommended  that  the  number  of 
boarders  be  increased  to  five,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  to  ten. 

Tho  Rev.  Mr.  Irwin,  in  July,  1849, 
appointed  James  Goodwin  (who  had  been 
Parish  Clerk  and  Schoolmaster  of  tho 
Parochial  School)  to  be  Schoolmaster  of  tho 
Rainey  School  at  a  salary  of  £20,  and  an 
allowance  of  £5  for  each  boy  in  aid  of  sub- 
sistence, and  directed  that  the  School 
should  consist  of  15  boys  (commencing  with 
5  and  admitting  5  each  year.)  He  also  mado 
Goodwin  enter  into  a  bond  of  £500  with  two 
sureties  to  give  up  peaceable  possession. 
The  boys  admitted  were  not,  it  seems,  con- 
fined to  Magherafelt,  some  being  from 
Ballyriff  and  some  from  Ballymultrca. 


THE  RAINEY  SCHOOL. 


G3 


The  Lord  Primate  and  the  Salters'  Com- 
pany, as  co-trustees,  appointed  the  rector  of 
Magherafelt,  and  the  Company's  resident 
agent  respectively  as  visitors,  and  from  1864 
llainey's  endowment  was  handed  over  by 
the  Primate  to  the  Salters'  agent,  who  paid 
the  entire  expenses  of  the  School. 

The  first  Head  Master  appointed  after  the 
re-building  of  the  School  (which  took  place 
in  1865)  was  Mr.  H-  E.  Kincaid,  M.A. 
(Cantab.)  The  salary  was  £150  a  year, 
exclusive  of  residence,  school  fees,  etc.,  and  in 
a  letter  of  5th  October,  1888,  to  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Educational  Endowments 
(Ireland)  Commission,  he  etimated  his  entire 
income  at  £240:— Salary  £150,  house  and 
grounds  £30,  fees  £40,  allowances  £15, 
results  £5.  In  addition  to  Mr.  Kincaid,  there 
were  two  assistants.  One  received  £80  and 
the  other  £20  per  annum.  The  average 
yearly  expenditure  varied  from  £375  to  £400, 
which  was  made  up  by  a  grant  of  from  £150 
to  £200  annually  from  the  Company  as 
required.  In  1879  the  School  was  opened  to 
all  denominations,  and  all  ministers  of 
religion  were  given  equal  rights  of  access  for 
the-  purpose  of  imparting  religious  in- 
struction to  the  pupils.  In  that  year  the 
"Foundation  Boys"  included  17  Church  of 
Ireland,  11  Presbyterians,  and  2  Roman 
Catholics — in  the  same  year  the  School  was 
placed  under  the  Intermediate  Act- 

The  Salters'  Company,  in  order  to  be  kept 
informed  of  the  progress  made  in  the  School, 
had  yearly  examinations  held  by  competent 
persons.  For  a  number  of  years  the  Rev.  P. 
B-ookey,  M.A.,  T.C.D.,  Clonoe  Rectory, 
Coalisland,  was  the  examiner,  and  the  exami- 
nations generally  took  place  in  June,  the 
subjeots  being: — English,  Classics,  Mathe- 
matics, Natural  Philosophy,  Chemistry, 
French,  Latin,  Drawing,  Writing  and 
Dictation.  The  Examiner  reported  to  the 
Salters'  Company  the  result  of  the  exami- 
nation, giving  the  names  of  the  prize-winners, 
and  the  Company  then  forwarded  prizes, 
which  included  a  Silver  Medal  for  superior 
answering;  prizes  for  regular  attendance  and 
good  conduct,  and  also  for  neatness  and  care 
of  clothes.  In  the  report  for  1884,  it  is 
stated  that  three  of  the  boys  passed  with 
credit  at  the  intermediate  Examination  held 
in  1883,  and  that  for  the  year  1884  seven  boys 
had  been  sent  up,  five  being  Foundationers. 
It  was  also  stated  that  two  of  the  pupils  had 
taken  Exhibitions— ono  in  Trinity  College, 
and  one  in  Queen's  College.  On  the  1st 
January,  1886,  the  30  boys  were  thus  repre- 
sented : — 15  Church  of  Ireland,  8  Presby- 
terians, and  7  Roman  Catholics.  The  School 
continued  to  be  managed  by  the  Primate  and 
the  Salters'  Company,  and  in  1886  the  Com- 
pany, contemplating  the  sale  of  their  Estate, 
decided  to  dispose  of  all  the  primary  Schools 


they  had  been  supporting,  by  giving  them  to 
the  various  denominations,  and  they 
naturally  wished  to  do  something  for  the 
Ramey  School. 

The  Endowment  Commissioners  held  an 
Inquiry  in  188G,  when  the  Presbyterians 
(for  the  first  time  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained) 
put  forward  a  claim  to  the  Endowment  under 
Rainey  s  will.  After  a  lot  of  correspondence, 
the  Salters  Company  decided  to  hand  over 
the  School  Buddings  and  the  Markets— the 
gross  amount  of  the  proposed  Endowment 
being  £194  annually.  This  decision  was  oon- 
veyed  in  a  letter,  dated  5th  March,  1887,  and 
the  question  arose  as  to  tho  constitution  of 
the  governing  body  which  was  to  manage  the 
School.  Mr.  Henry  Cartwright  (afterwards 
Sir  Henry  Cartwright)  wrote  to  the  Com- 
mission that  the  intention  of  the  Companv 
was  that  a  Joint  Board  of  Governors  should 
be  appointed,  composed  of  representatives  of 
the  Church  of  Ireland  and  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  but  open  to  children  of  all  denomi- 
nations, with  the  Lord  Primate  as  Chairman 
As  the  Commission  had  understood  previously 
that  the  Company  contemplated  the  incorpo- 
ration of  a  Board  of  representative 
Governors,  the  Secretary  to  tho  Commission 
wrote  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  tho 
Company's  exact  views  on  the  subject,  and  on 
the  26th  July,  1887,  the  Company  replied 
that  they  desired  to  remain  neutral  on  tho 
matter.  The  Commission  then  decided  to 
make  a  draft  Scheme,  confining  it  to  Rainey's 
Endowment.  Prior  to  the  publication  of  the 
Scheme,  the  late  Rev.  Canon  Donnelly, 
Parish  Priest,  the  late  Rev.  J.  J.  Quinn, 
CO,  and  the  late  Mr.  John  Donaghv,  in  a 
letter  dated  16th  December,  1887,  put  for- 
ward a  claim  to  a  share  of  the  Endowment. 
Their  proposal  consisted  of  two  alternative 
Schemes,  based  on  the  division  of  the 
Foundations  and  Endowments— one  for  girls 
and  one  for  boys.  They  stated  that  they 
would  carry  on  the  work  of  education  of  girls 
by  devoting  the  grant  made  to  the  main- 
tenance in  part— (a)  of  a  poor  or  primary 
school,  and  (b)  of  a  high  class  school.  The 
primary  school  would  bo  erected  at  a  cost  of 
£300,  and  the  high  class  school  would  be  held 
in  the  Manor  House,  and  the  Schools,  so  far 
as  secular  instruction  was  concerned,  would 
be  open  to  all  creeds  and  classes.  The  Scheme 
for  boys  was  that  the  Catholics  were  build- 
ing a  new  boys'  Schools,  and  could,  if  the 
grant  were  obtained,  erect  a  building  to  suit 
both  an  elemenary  and  high  class  School. 
But  they  preferred  the  adoption  of  the 
Scheme  for  the  girls'  School.  The  mode  of 
division  suggested  was— that  as  the  sub- 
stantial portion  of  tho  Endowments  had  been 
made  by  the  Salters'  Company,  a  division 
basod  on  the  proportion  of  the  population 
would  be  equitable.  According  to  the  Census 
in  1881,  there  were    on    tho    Salters'  Estate 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


The  following  time-table  was  drawn  up: — 
SUMMER. 
G  o'clock  till  7,  cleaning  yards,  cattle,  etc. 

7  ,,  ,,  7f,  washing  and  prep,  lessons- 
7i      „        ,,      8/.,  prayers  and  breakfast. 

8i      ,,        ,,      1,    school. 

I  p.m.       ,,      12,   dinner. 

12      ,,        ,,      7,  working  on  farm. 
7?i     ,,        ,,     8,   supper. 

8  ,,  ,,  9s,  prep,  lessons  for  next  day. 
9i      ,,        ,,      11),  prayers  and  bed- 

This  time  table  was  slightly  altered  in 
winter.  It  seems  that  Goodwin  "after  a 
"long  course  of  grievous  sin,  cloaked  with 
"consumate  hypocrisy,"  absconded  on  the 
22nd  November,  1851,  leaving  debts  amount- 
ing to  £200.  His  wife  remained  behind, 
turned  out  the  boys,  and  kept  possession  till 
29th  November.  She  was  then  removed, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Irwin  brought  back  the 
boys,  appointed  a  temporary  caretaker,  and 
caused  the  boys  to  attend  the  Parochial 
Daily  School  until  a  permanent  master  was 
appointed.  On  the  11th  December,  1851, 
he  appointed  Mr-  Edward  Bear,  then  Master 
of  the  Aughrim  School,  as  Schoolmaster  of 
the  Rainey  School,  and  made  him  a  weekly 
tenant.  In  the  year  1853,  owing  to  the 
great  advance  in  the  price  of  provisions,  he 
resolved  to  admit  only  4  boys  instead  of  6, 
and  for  a  similar  cause  in  1855  the  number 
of  boys  to  be  admitted  was  reduced  to  3. 

The  Educational  Endowments  Commission, 
which  investigated  all  the  Endowed  Schools 
in  Ireland  in  1854  to  1S58,  reported  in  t  ho 
latter  year  that  the  Rainey  School  was  no 
longer  capable  of  maintaining  24  boys,  as 
directed  by  the  testator ;  that  even 
tho  ten  boarders  then  on  the  foundation, 
could  only  be  supported  by  the  diversion  of 
their  time  and  attention  from  a  course  of 
instruction  to  the  tillage  of  a  farm  of  12 
acres,  which  the  Master  cultivated  by  per- 
mission of  tho  trustee,  his  Grace  tho  Lord 
Primate,  and  that  the  land  was  held  under  a 
tenancy  at  will  from  the.  Salters'  Company's 
lessees  at  a  rent  of  £17  2s  Od.  They  further 
reported  that  the  course  of  instruction 
given  in  the  School  consisted  of  reading, 
writing,  grammar,  geography,  arithmetic 
and  church  catechism.  The  annual  salary  of 
the  Master  was  £20,  and  his  other  emolu- 
ments were  a  house  valued  at  £4  yearly,  and 
the  overplus  of  profits  of  farm  after  dieting 
tho  boys.  The  number  of  pupils  the  school- 
room was  suited  to  accommodate  was  35  and 

II  boarders,  and  the  playground  was  small. 
There  were  ten  boys  on  tho  rolls — 3  of  which 
were  Presbyterians  and  7  belonged  to  the 
United  Church.  The  schoolhouse  was  falling 
into  ruin,  having  no  fund  for  its  repair,  the 
premises  being  held  at  will  only. 

A  deputation  from  the  Salters'  Co.  visited 
the  School  in  the  later  part  of  the  year  1849. 
The  Rev-  C.  K.  Irwin  met  tho  deputation  at 


the  building,  explained  the  particulars  of 
the  foundation,  and  expressed  a  strong 
hope  that  tho  Company  would  take  an 
interest  in  the  charity  when  they  took  over 
possession  of  their  Estate,  and  added  that  ho 
felt  sure  his  Grace,  tho  Primate,  would 
gladly  admit  their  co-operation  in  tho 
management  of  the  Trust  and  render  it  more 
extensively  useful.  In  November,  18G0,  it 
appears  that  correspondence  took  place 
between  the  then  Primate  and  the  Salters' 
Company  111  reference  to  the  presentation  of 
a  petition  to  the  Master  in  Chancery  for  an 
alteration  111  the  administration  of  the  Trust 
(following  the  example  of  a  certain  Primato 
in  regard  to  the  Drelin  Court  School),  owing 
to  the  ruin  the  Rainey  School  had  fallen  into, 
and  the  small  number  of  boys  which  tho 
funds  were  only  able  to  maintain.  Tho 
matters  having  been  arranged,  a  petition 
was  presented  on  the  28th  April,  18(12,  signed 
by  the  Primate  and  Rev.  Mr.  Irwin,  Rector 
of  Magherafolt.  It  suggested  that  the 
existing  delapulated  schoolhouse  and  farm 
should  be  surrendered  to  the  Salters' 
Company,  who  had  promised  to  defray  the 
expense  of  erecting  a  suitable  School  on  an 
eligib  e  site  in  Magherafolt,  and  to  execute 
a  declaration  of  trust,  or  otherwise  secure 
same  for  the  objects  of  the  charity;  that 
Rainey's  Endowment  should  be  applied  for 
the  support  of  the  School  and  free  elementary 
education,  and  religious  instruction  be 
given  to  30  boys  as  day  pupils— half  to  bo 
nominated  by  the  Lord  Primate  and  half  by 
tho  Salters'  Company,  and  clothing,  books 
and  school  requisites  to  be  provided  free  to 
the  boys  out  of  the  funds  of  the  Charity;  a 
highly  qualified  teacher  to  be  nominated  by 
the  Lord  Primate  at  a  competent  salary,  and 
if  the  funds  permitted  a  pupil  teacher,  and 
a. so  for  apprenticing  one  of  the  scholars 
every  year;  the  school  to  be  open  for  tho 
education  of  other  scholars  besides  those  on 
the  Foundation,  0:1  the  payment  of  school 
fees  to  be  regulated  by  the  *  Lord  Primato. 
On  that  report  Mr.  Litton,  Master  in 
Chancery,  settled  a  scheme  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  School,  and  on  the  21st  January, 
18G3,  an  order  was  made  confirming  same, 
and  that  the  Company's  offer  be  accepted, 
the  building  and  premises  to  be  duly  con- 
veyed to  trustees  in  perpetuity. 

The  present  School  buildings  were  erected 
by  the  Salters'  Company  and  finished  in  18G4 
at  a  cost  of  £1,332',  and  the  following 
inscription  put   thereon  : — 

"Rainey's  Foundation  School,  re-built  A.D. 
18G4,  by  the  Worshipful  Company  of 
Salters,  London,  for  the  education  of 
thirty  boys  free  of  all  charge,  to  be 
styled  Foundation  Boys" 

The  School  was  not  re-built  on  the  site  of  tho 

old  school,  but  on     a  site     a    little     further 

down  tho  street. 


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MAGHERAFELT  TECHNICAL  SCHOOL. 


MR.  W.  D.  COUSINS, 

Principal  of  Magherafelt  Technical  School, 


THE  LATE 
MR.  D.  CAMPBELL  GAUSSEN,  BL 


MR.  JAMES  SHIVERS,  J.P 


MK.  W.  J.  BANNA. 


THE  RAINEY  SCHOOL. 


Go 


3,199  Protestants,  3,023  Presbyterians,  and 
3,915  Roman  Catholics.  A  value  could  be  set 
upon  the  premises,  and  the  denomination  or 
denominations  not  occupying  them  should 
receive  suitable  compensation- 

The  Commission,  on  the  13th  August,  1888, 
published  the  Draft  Scheme  which  formed 
the  governing  body— half  Presbyterian  and 
half  Church,  with  the  Primate  as  Chairman, 
and  with  power  for  the  subscribers  to  elect 
additional  Governors.  The  Scheme  was 
objected  to  by  all  parties.  The  position  of 
the  Scheme  regarding  the  Chairman  was 
objected  to  by  the  Presbyterians,  as  they 
considered  it  would  give  a  majority  against 
them ;  the  Primafo  and  Rev.  Dr.  Jordan 
(then  Rector  of  Maghcrafelt)  objected  owing 
to  being  deprived  of  the  power  they  had,  and 
the  Roman  Catholics  objected  to  the  funde- 
mental  principle  of  the  Scheme,  which 
totally  excluded  them  from  a  participation  in 
the  Endowments.  The  Commission  again 
visited  Maghcrafelt  on  the  22nd  October. 
1888.  The  Salters'  Co.  wrote  wishing  to 
have  the  Scheme  so  framed  as  to  dispose  of 
the  Markets,  which  were  managed  by  a 
Committee  appointed  by  the  inhabitants. 
In  1889  the  Committee  were: — Dr.  Autcrson, 
JP.  ;  James  Harbison,  J. P.  ;  Samuel  Porter, 
J.P.;  T.  H.  S.  Taylor,  John  Donaghy,  and 
Alexander  Johnston,  all  since  deceased— the 
Stores  were  then  let  at  £164:— 

Net  Rent  of  Markets  £70 

Largo  Grain  Storo  22 

Small  Grain  Storo  16 

Flax  Store  50 

£104 

After  a  lot  of  correspondence,  the  Company 
ultimately  declared  its  intention  to  make 
the  Market  property  subject  to  a  rent  charge 
of  £120  a  year,  which  was  the  sum  the 
Market  Committee  were  willing  to  pay  ;  and 
to  give  Rainey  School  £00  a  year;  and  £54  a 
year  for  the  benefit  of  Roman  Catholic 
Education.  This — they  stated— would  be  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  inhabitants 
representing  the  two  denominations  on  their 
Estate.  The  Commission  then  re-cast  the 
draft  Scheme,  yielding  to  the  objections  of 
the  Presbyterians  to  the  extent 
that  they  made  the  then  Primate  Chairman 
during  his  life,  and  after  his  death,  or  in  his 
absence,  the  Chairman  was  to  be  appointed 
by  rotation.  This  Scheme  was  signed  on  the 
11th  January,  1890,  and  submitted  to  the 
Privy  Council,  when  all  the  objections  dis- 
appeared except  those  of  the  Presbyterians. 
Tho  General  Assembly  sent  a  deputation 
claiming  to  have  Rainey's  Endowment 
entirely  to  themselves,  and  pressed  on  the 
Commissioners  their  desire  to  separate  this 
Endowment  from  the  other  grants-  The 
Judicial  Commissioners  took  the  view  (1)  that 


all  the  successful  Schools  which  they  had  met 
in  tho  North  of  Ireland  were  under  bodies 
representing  all  denominations  of  Protes- 
tants; (2)  that  Magherafelt  was  entirely 
unable  to  support  two  Schools  for  Protes- 
tants, and  <3)  that  whatever  Rainey's 
Endowment  might  have  been  originally, 
neither  when  the  Act  of  Parliament  was 
passed,  nor  when  the  Chancery  Scheme  was 
got,  not  at  any  time  for  a  period  of  nearly 
200  years,  had  tho  Presbyterians  done  any- 
thing to  assert  their  rights,  therefore 
they  thought  they  could  not  exclude  the 
Church  people  altogether.  The  Privy  Council 
over-ruled  the  objections,  and  on  the  19th 
May,  1890,  the  Lord  Lieutenant  approved 
of  tho  Scheme  as  signed.  The  matter  was 
then,  brought  before  Parliament,  and  tho 
Scheme  was  in  part  disapproved  by 
Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  on  4th 
December,  1890.  One  of  the  amendments 
was  that  the  Governors,  at  their  first  meet- 
ing after  the  date  of  the  Scheme,  and  at  their 
first  ordinary  meeting  in  each  calendar  year 
should  elect  a  Chairman  and  Vice-Chairman. 
The  Scheme  was  finally  sanctioned  by  the 
Privy  Council  on  12th  November,  1891. 

The  governing  body  consists  of  nine 
members  at  least,  and  as  many  additional 
members  as  the  subscribers  shall  elect,  sub- 
ject to  certain  qualifications  and  regulations. 
The  four  ex-officio  Governors  are  the  Primate 
(or  the  Governor  nominated  by  him),  the 
Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  (or  tho 
Governor  nominated  by  him),  the  Rector  of 
Magherafelt,  and  the  Minister  of  tho  First 
Presbyterian  Church.  Of  the  five  repre- 
sentative Goevrnors,  one  shall  be  elected  by 
the  Diocesan  Council  of  Armagh,  two  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Magherafelt,  one  by  tho 
Presbytery  of  Tyrone,  and  one  by  tho'Seloct 
Vestry  of  Magherafelt.  The  first  five  repre- 
sentative Governors  were :— The  late 
Venorable  W.  E-  Meade,  Archdeacon  of 
Armagh  (representing  the  Diocesan  Council), 
the  late  lle.v.  A.  Minnis,  Saltorslaud,  and 
the  late  Mr.  Andrew  Brown,  J. P.,  Maghera- 
felt (representing  the  Presbytery  of  Maghera- 
felt) ;  the  late  Mr.  John  Glover,  solicitor 
(representing  the  Presbytery  of  Tyrone),  and 
the  late  Mr.  John  Smyth,  Magherafelt 
(representing  tho  Select  Vestry.) 

The  Scheme  also  provided  for  the  election 
of  additional  Governors-  One  additional 
Governor  can  be  elected  by  ten  subscribers, 
two  additional  Governors  by  twenty-five  sub- 
scribers, three  additional  Governors  by  fifty 
subscribers,  and  four  additional  Governors  by 
one  hundred  subscribers.  The  qualification  of 
the  Subscribers  is  (a)  a  subscription  of  £10, 
(b)  a  subscription  of  £5  from  past  pupils  of 
the  School  who  had  attained  the  age  of  21 
years,  and  had  been  educated  as  pupils  for  not 
less  than  threo  academical  years ;  (c)  a 
subscription  of  not  less    than  £5  in  one    sum 


HISTORY  OF  MAGUERAFELT. 


by  persons  who,  after  31st  December,  1888, 
paid  not  less  than  £10  for  the  education  of  a 
pupil  or  pupils  in  the  School,  and  (d)  fin 
annual  subscription  of  £1.  All  the  endow- 
ments, School  premises,  etc.,  are  vested  in 
the  governing  body,  who  are  empowered  to 
manage  the  property.  They  may  admit 
boarders,  maintain  evening  classes  for  all — 
elementary,  intermediate,  technical,  com- 
mercial and  other  branches  of  education — 
including  religious  instruction,  in  case  the 
parents  do  not  object  to  the  latter.  The 
Governors  are  also  directed  to  establish  and 
maintain  at  least  four  free  Scholarships  open 
to  pupils  aged  between  eleven  and  fourteen 
years  who  had  made  100  attendances  at  an 
elementary  within  ten  miles  of  Magherafelt, 
in  each  of  the  two  years  preceding  the 
examination. 

From  the  formation  of  the  School,  after 
the  making  of  the  Scheme  in  November,  1891, 
till  1894,  only  boys  were  admitted.  In  the 
latter  year,  owing  to  the  urgent  need  for 
facilities  for  higher  education  of  girls,  the 
Governors  resolved  to  admit  female  pupils, 
and  to  have  the  institution  conducted  as  a 
mixed  School.  Mr.  Kincaid,  who  had  acted 
as  head  master  since  1864,  resigned  in  1894, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev-  James 
MTeeters,  M.A.,  and  Miss  Henry,  L.L.A. 
(St.  Andrew's  University),  was  appointed 
head  mistress  of  the  girls'  department. 
Under  their  tuition  the  School  made  such 
progress  that  in  1895  the  Governors  found  it 
necessary  to  provide  additional  accommo- 
dation. As  the  fund  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Governors  was  very  limited  they  made  an 
appeal  to  the  public  and  £500  was  subscribed. 
A  new  class-room  and  dormitory  were  built, 
and  other  improvements  carried  out,  which 
proved  very  convenient  and  comfortable- 
The  Rev.  James  M'Feeters  was  appointed 
Principal  of  Bangor  Endowed  School  in  1893, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Calvin, 
13. A.,  LL.B.  Miss  Henry  resigned  in  1899, 
when  Miss  Hudson,  M.A-,  was  appointed,  but 
left  the  following  year,  and  Miss  Patton, 
B.A.,  the  present  head  mistress,  took  up 
duty. 

It  was  then  found  that  the  teachers  were 
placed  at  a  great  disadvantage  by  the  want 
of  a  properly  equipped  laboratory  for  in- 
struction in  'Science  and  other  kindred  sub- 
jects, and  that  the  School  was  suffering  from 
the  keen  competition  of  other  richly  Endowed 
Schools  in  Ulster.  The  Governors  were  again 
reluctantly  compelled  to  appeal  to  the  public 
to  come  to  their  assistance,  and  after  a  good 
deal  of  effort  they  raised  £400.  This  sum, 
however,  was  not  sufficient  to  carry  out  the 
necessary  requirements,  and  they  were 
obliged    to    obtain  a  lonn    of  £200    from    the 


intermediate  Board,  repayable  by  ten  annual 
instalments  of  £22  10s  Od  each.  With  this 
sum  another  storey  was  added  to  the  School 
buildings,  new  School  furniture  was  provided, 
and  a.  Science  laboratory  equipped-  The  pay- 
ment of  the  £22  10s  Od  yearly  was  found  to  be 
a  great  burden,  considering  the  inadequate 
funds  at  the  disposal  of  the  Governors,  and  in 
order  to  get  relieved  of  that,  and  to 
improve  the  sanitation  of  the  school,  and 
provide  more  up-to-date  equipment,  a  very 
successful  two-day  bazaar  was  held  on  the 
11th  and  12th  December,  1912,  in  the  Town 
Hall,  Magherafelt.  Sir  Hiram  "Wilkinson 
presided  at  the  first  day's  proceedings,  and 
Mrs-  Leeper  performed  the  opening  cere- 
mony. At  the  second  day's  proceedings,  Col. 
J.  J.  Clark,  D.L.,  J. P.,  Chairman  of  the 
County  Council,  occupied  the  chair,  and  Mrs. 
Thomson  opened  the  bazaar,  and  a  handsome 
sum  was  realized- 

The  School  at  present  is  in  a  very  high  state 
of  efficiency,  and  this  year,  1916,  the  number 
of  pupils  on  the  rolls  bein<;  78,  as  com- 
pared with  26  in  1905.  This  is  not  surprising, 
when  it  is  remembered  that  of  the  five  per- 
manent teachers  four  are  University 
graduates.  In  addition  there  is  a  visiting 
teacher  for  Drawing  and  Art,  Miss  J.  F. 
Herriea,  and  one  for  singing,  Mr.  Henry 
Dagger,  Coleraine.  It  can  point  with 
pardonable  pride  to  the  work  which  it  has 
carried  on,  and  is  carrying  on.  Some  of  its 
pupils  have  secured  exhibitions,  medals  and 
special  prizes  in  all  grades  of  the  Intermediate 
Examinations,  Entrance  Scholarships  in 
Queen's  College,  Belfast,  and  three  years 
Scholarships  therein,  in  addition  to  the 
Drapers'  Company's  Scholarship  for  the  girl 
or  boy  in  Co.  Derry  who  obtained  most  marks 
in  connection  with  the  Intermediate.  Quite 
a  number  of  pupils  are  in  Banks  and  positions 
of  trust,  and  they  have  a  good  reputation  in 
the  Training  Colleges-  In  the  modern 
language  section  the  position  the  School 
occupies  is  second  to  none,  due  to  the  energy 
and  ability  of  Miss  Patton.  It  is  at  present 
conducted  as  a  day  school,  but  the  Governors 
provided  accommodation  for  boarders  by  the 
addition  of  a  large  dormitory  in  1904. 

As  already  stated,  the  town  can  boast  of  one 
of  the  most  successful  secondary  schools  in 
Ulster,  and  with  the  following  excellent 
permanent  teaching  staff: — Mr.  J.  A. 
Calvin,  B.A.,  LL.D.,  head  master;  Miss 
Ina  Patton,  B  A.,  head  mistress;  Miss 
MacMillan,  R.U.I.,  assistant;  Mr.  W.  A.  8. 
Blaine,  B.Sc.  (London)  and  A.K.C., 
assistant,  and  Miss  Harvey,  M.A.— its  repu- 
tation is  certain  to  be  further  enhanced  in  the 
near  future. 


NATIONAL  SCHOOLS. 


The  system  of  National  Education  waa 
established  in  Ireland  in  1831.  Prior  to  that 
date  many  attempts  to  establish,  a.  system 
on  popular  lines  were  made,  but  owing 
to  various  causes,  did  not  permanently 
succeed.  After  the  conversion  of  Ireland  to 
Christianity  by  St.  Patrick,  towards  the  end 
of  the  fourth  century,  many  great  schools 
were  founded,  and  education  spread  rapidly 
all  over  the  country  through  the  teaching  of 
the  clergy  and  learned  men.  Foreign  students 
flocked  to  them.  Camden  says: — "Our  Anglo- 
Saxons  went  in  those  times  to  Ireland,  as  to 
"a  fair,  to  purchase  knowledge."  During 
the  strugglo  between  the  Anglo-Normans  and 
the  Irish  the  lamp  of  learning  was  almost 
extinguished.  It  did  burn,  but  feebly.  The 
Irish  Parliament  passed  an  Act  in  1537  for 
the  establishment  of  Parochial  Schools 
throughout  the  country,  which  was  the  first 
attempt  at  a  systematised  plan  of  public 
elementary  education  in  Ireland.  Then  in 
1570  a  further  Act  was  passed  for  the  for- 
mation of  Diocesan  Free  Schools-  Those 
schools  were  to  be  erected  in  the  principal 
shire  towns  in  each  diocese  at  the  cost  of  the 
whole  diocese.  The  Lord  Lieutenant  and 
some  of  the  Bishops  had  the  right  of  appoint- 
ing the  teachers,  but  owing  to  defects  in  the 
Act  of  Parliament;  the  emallness  of  the 
salaries  fixed;  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
objects  for  which  the  schools  were  established, 
etc.,  they  were  never  very  successful.  Those 
tFiat  remainod  in  operation  were,  it  appears, 
conducted  as  Grammar  or  Classical  Schools. 
There  were  fourteen  of  these  schools  in 
operation  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of  the 
Irish  Church  Act,  which  seems  to  have  put  a 
termination  to  their  existence. 

The  advent  of  the  National  Board  system 
was  not  received  with  the  enthusiasm  that 
was  expected.  The  chief  objection  which  was 
put  forward  by  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of 
Ireland,  and  also  by  the  ministers  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  the  exclusion  of  the 
Bible  from  the  curriculum  during  the  hours 
of  combined  literary  instruction.  To  meet 
this  demand  the  Commissioners  prepared  a 
series  of  selections  from  the  Schiptures  for  use 
in  the  schools.  But  this  concession  evidently 
did  not  give  complete  satisfaction-;  the  conse- 
quence being  that  progress  was  very  slow.  In 
1834  there  were  onlv  789  schools  in  connection 
with  the  Board,  with  107,042  pupils-  The 
Commissioners  then  made  a  further 
concession,  with  the  result  that  in  1835  there 
were  1,100  schools,  with  145,521  pupils  on 
rolls.  Matters,  however,  ran  none  too 
smoothly,  and  the  Government  appointed 
Committees  of  the  House  of  Lords  and  House 


of  Commons  to  enquire  into  the  system.  The 
result  was  that  modifications  were  made  in 
1838.  These  evidently  did  not  satisfy  the 
clergy  and  many  laymen  of  the  Church  of 
Ireland,  and  accordingly  they  formed  "The 
Church  Education  Society,"  the  object  being 
to  assist  schools  then  in  existence,  and  to 
establish  new  schools  on  an  improved  system 
for  the  purpose  of  affording  to  the  children 
of  the  Church  instruction  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  Catechism  and  other  formularies 
of.the  Church,  under  the  direction  of  the 
bishops  and  parochial  clergy,  and  under  the 
tuition  of  teachers  who  were  members  of  the 
United  Church  of  England  and  Ireland.  This 
Society,  which  was  generously  supported, 
undertook  and  fulfilled  all  the  functions  of  an 
education  board,  including  the  supply  of  books 
and  requisites,  inspection  of  schools  and  train- 
ing of  teachers.  The  schools,  were  open  to 
children  of  all  religious  denominations,  sub- 
ject to  the  unvarying  rule  that  every  pupil 
able  to  read  should  read  the  Bible  daily  as 
part  of  the  school  course.  In  1867  there  were 
1,451  schools,  with  63,549  pupils  on  rolls 
connected  with  the  Society,  and  the  sub- 
scriptions amounted  to  £44,169.  This  Society 
flourished  till  the  Disestablishment  of  the 
Church,  after  which  the  schools  went  in  under 
the  National  Board. 

The  Presbyterian  secession  from  the 
National  Board  ended  in  1840,  the  Com- 
missioners having  modified  their  rules,  leaving 
it  open  to  managers  of  non-vested  schools  to 
arrange  their  time  table  so  as  to  afford  a 
reasonable  option  in  respect  of  religious 
instruction- 

So  far  as  can  be  ascertained  the  Parochial 
Boys'  School,  situated  in  Church  Street  was, 
next  to  the  Rainey  School,  the  oldest  existing 
school  in  town.  When  it  was  first  erected  is 
not  acurately  known.  In  1838  the  building 
was  almost  a  ruin.  It  was  pulled  down,  and 
a  new  one  erected  in  1844  at  a  cost  of  £145. 
The  tablet  which  was  hung  up  in  the  school 
bears  the  following  inscription: — 

"Erected  in  1844,  and  presented  to 

the      Parishioners     by    the      Rev. 

Thomas  Agmon  Vesey,  aided  by  tha 

Salters'       Company        and      other 

friends." 

Rev.  T.  A-  Vesey  £60 

Salters'  Company  60 

Sir  Robert  Bateson  15 

Andrew  Spotewood  5 

Rev.  William  Vesey  5 


63 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFET/J 


A  deputation  of  tlie  Salters'  Company  whig]] 
visited  the  estate  in  1819,  also  visited  tho 
schools,  and  in  reference  to  this  school 
reported  that  the  master  was  Mr.  Goodwin  ; 
that  the  school  was  under,  the  superintendence 
of  the  Rev.  O  K.  Irwin  and  in  connection 
with  the  Church  Education  Society.  The 
number  of  boys  on  tho  rolls  was  GO,  and  the 
average  attendance  -10.  The  master  had  a 
house  and  garden  attached.  The  salary  and 
advantages  were: — 
From  the    Lessees  of  the    Estate 


per  annui 


£10  10     0 


From    the      Rector— Salary    and 

Requisites  3  14  0 

From  tho  Salters'  Co.  5  5  0 

From  tho  Scholars— about  20  0  p 

House  and  Garden— value  about  3  0  0 

£42     9     0 

There  was  also  a  gratuity,  according  to 
merit  from  the  Church  Education  Society— 
which  amounted  to  £3  the  previous  year. 
There  were  59  Church  of  England  scholars, 
and  7  Roman  Catholic  scholars  at  the  school. 
The  report  further  states  that  Mr.  Goodwin 
had  a  salary  of  £10  as  Parish  Clerk,  and  that 
his  duties  were  limited  to  the  Divine  Service, 
and  also  that  the  attendance  on  the  part  of 
the  children  was  much  lessened  in  April,  May 
and  June  in  consequence  of  seed  time  and 
turf  making.  The  average  attendance  for  the 
fortnight  ended  21st  July,  1849,  was  55- 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  subsequently  appointed 
schoolmaster  of  the  Rainey  School,  and  a  Mr. 
Bernard  was  appointed  as  his  successor.  The 
next  teacher  was  Mr.  AY.  B.  Charters,  who 
was  appointed  in  1858.  He  was  also  tho  first 
organist  of  St.  Swithin's  Church.  The  school, 
after  some  years,  was  closed,  owing  to  the 
irregular  and  insullieient  attendance,  and 
remained  closed  till  the  late  Rev-  Prebendary 
Jordan,  D.D.,  became  rector.  It  was  then 
re-opened  in  1880,  under  the  National  Board, 
with  Mr.  Francis  Richardson  as  teacher,  and 
remained  in  operation  till  the  end  of  January, 
1909,  when  it  was  amalgamated  with  the 
Girls'  School,  under  Miss  Barber.  The  school 
has  been  converted  into  a  commodious 
Parochial  Hall  by  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Lindsay, 
M.A-,  and  supplies  a  long  felt  want. 

The  Parochial  Girls'  School  (now  a  mixed 
school)  and  teachers'  residences,  were  built  by 
the  Salters'  Company  in  1859  at  a  cost  of 
£860.  The  school  was  opened  on  the  1st 
August,  1859  under  the  Church  Education 
Society,  and  came  under  tho  National  Board 
on  the  1st  September,  1870.  Miss  Cowan 
(afterwards  Mrs.  Steacv)  was  the  first  teacher. 
In  September,  1872,  Miss  Sarah  A.  Latimer 
was  appointed  assistant  at  a  salary  of  £20 
yearly,  and  she  ceased  to  act  in  1875.  In 
1874  Miss  Cowan's  salary  was  £24  yearly,  and 
increased  to  £30  in  April,  1875.  In  that  year 
a  monitress  was  appointed  at  £G.  Mrs-  Steacy 
resigned    on    pension    in    1893     when      Miss 


Al'Keown  (now  Mrs.  Orr,  of  Castleblaney) 
became  teacher.  She  was  succeeded  in  1895 
by  Miss  Chapman,  who  in  1897  was  replaced 
by  the  present  excellent  teacher,  Miss 
Barber.  Her  assistant  is  Miss  JMaithind. 
Extensive  alterations  have  been  made  to  the 
mixed  school,  including  the  addition  cf  a 
spacious  class-ioom  and  modern  sanitary 
arrangements,  by  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Lindsay, 
A.M.  The  School  is  in  a  very  efficient  state. 
The  two  residences  were  also  converted 
into  one  commodious  dwelling-house,  tho 
whole  costing  almost  £500-  The  school, 
parochial  hall  and  residence,  with  gardens 
attached,  were  conveyed  free  to  the  Armagh 
Diocesan  Trustees  by  tho  Salters'  Company, 
on  tho  2nd  February,  1888. 

In  1849  the  Parochial  Female  School,  then 
called  Lady  Batesmi's  School,  was  situated  on 
Union  Road  and  after  the  sale  of  the  Salters' 
Estate  ceased  to  exist  as  such,  and  was  con- 
verted into  a  dwelling-house,  and  is  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  P.  J.  Henry,  solicitor,  a.s  an 
office— being  the  property  of  Dr.  Hegarty, 
J. P.  The  number  of  pupils  on  the  rolls  in 
1849  was  83,  and  the  average  attendance  GG. 
The  salary  and  advantages  at  that  period 
were  :— 

From  Lady  Bateson,  per  annum  £20    0  0 

From  Salters'  Co.  5  5  0 
From     tho    Rector— Salary    and 

Requisites  4  12  G 
From     Miss     Holliday    Rent     of 

Residence  2  12  0 

From  Pupils  (1848)  GOO 


£38    9    6 


Miss  Harvey,  the  then  teacher,  was  also 
awarded  a  gratuity  from  the  Church  Edu- 
cation Society — the  amount  for  the  previous 
year  being  £3  10s  Od.  Of  the  83  scholars,  4G 
belonged  to  the  Church  of  England  and 
Ireland,  18  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
19  to  the  Roman  Catholic' Church. 

This  school  was  one  of  three  situated  on 
the  Salters'  Estate  wdiere  females  were 
separately  attended  to ;  instructed  and 
taught  knitting  rough  stitching  and  good 
needlework,  and  wdiere  careful  attention  was 
paid  to  the  children's  personal  condition  and 
habits  of  female  decorum.  Miss  Harvey,  tho 
teacher,  when  a  little  girl,  is  said  to  have 
had  the  honour  of  sitting  on  the  knee  of  King 
George  the  Fourth.  When  she  retired  on 
pension  she  went  to  reside  at  Graeefield, 
Ballymaguiggan.  The  last  teacher  of  this 
school  was  a  Miss  Tew,  who  resided  in  the 
house  now  used  by  Dr.  Hegarty  as  a 
surgery. 

The  Presbyterian  Male  and  Female 
Schools,  popularly  known  as  tho  "Fair  Hill 
Schools,"  occupied  the  site  of  the  present 
commodious  buildings,  and  were  built  in  the 
year  1846.  The  first  principals  were  Mr. 
Thomas     Lowry     and      Miss    Anna    Britain. 


NATIONAL  SCHOOLS. 


<;•.> 


When  the  deputation  of  the  Salters' 
Company  visited  them  in  1849,  they  reported 
that  the  male  school  was  in  connection  with 
the  National  Board  of  Education,  under  the 
care  of  the  Rev.  James  Wilson,  and  superin- 
tended by  a  committee.  The  number  of 
pupils  on  the  rolls  was  50  males  and  72 
females,  and  the  average  attendance  -13 
and  44  respectively.  The  schools  were  under 
the  one  roof  and  were  admirably  conducted. 
The  committee  had  secured  to  the  male 
teacher  a  salary  of  £45  for  the  year.  Of  that 
sum  the  National  Board  paid  £18,  and  the 
remainder — £27 — was  to  be  raised  by  fees 
from  the  scholars — a  considerable  sum  in 
those  days — and  in  case  the  fees  did  not  reach 
that  amount,  the  committee  were  to  make 
up  the  deficiency  by  subscriptions.  The 
salary  of  the  female  teacher  was  £5  yearly 
from  the  Salters'  Company  and  fees  from 
the  children — which  for  that  year  amounted 
to  £12— making  her  total  salary  £17.  The 
deputation  added  that  Miss  Britain  seemed 
to  be  a  well  conducted  person.  Mr.  Lowry 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Hugh  Caldwell,  who  in 
turn  gave  place  to  Mr.  Samuel  M 'Murray, 
B.A.,  father  of  the  Rev.  W.  B.  M 'Murray, 
M.A.,  the  popular  minister  of  Whiteabbey 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  M'Murray 
successfully  conducted  the  school  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  resigned  on  securing 
the  principalship  of  St.  Enoch's  National 
School,  Belfast — one  of  the  most  important 
in  that  oity,  and  of  which  he  is  still  the 
esteemed  guiding  hand.  Mr-  William  Scilley 
— now  retired  and  residing  on  his  farm  in 
Toberhead— was  next  appointed  master,  and 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Richard  Mercer,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Samuel  Ross 
M'Clements.  Subsequently       Mi'.       John 

Stewart  was  appointed,  and  continued  till 
the  old  Schools  were  pulled  down.  In  the 
female  department,  on  Miss  Britain's 
resignation,  Miss  R.  Steen  was  appointed, 
and  she  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Cunningham, 
after  which  Miss  Boden — now  Mrs.  John 
Stewart,  secured  the  position. 

So  popular  did  the  schools  become  that  the 
premises  became  inadequate,  and  the 
manager,  Rev-  George  Gillespie,  M-A.,  with 
the  support  of  the  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  congregation  decided  to  build 
new  schools  with  up-to-date  arrangements. 
This  required  a  great  and  united  effort, 
which  was  ungrudgingly  put  forth,  with  the 
result  that  the  present  fine  schools,  equipped 
in  every  detail,  were  opened  in  1895,  having 
cost  almost  £900.  The  Commissioners  of 
National  Education  made  a  grant  towards 
the  building  fund,  and  the  remainder  was 
contributed,  partly  by  the  congregation,  and 
partly  by  the  proceeds  of  a  bazaar.  The 
principals  of  the  new  schools  arc  Mr.  John 
Stewart  and  Mrs.  Stewart,  who  held  similar 
positions  in  the  old  premises,  and  their 
present  assistants  are  Mis.  Isabella  Stewart, 
and   Miss   S.    M'Cartuey,     respectively.     The 


schools  are  in  a  most  flourishing    condition, 
due  to  the  confidence  in  the  teaching  staff. 

There  was  a  school  in  connection  with  the 
Methodist  Church  in  existence  in  182G-  It 
was  situated  down  a  lane  convenient  to  tho 
present  Methodist  Church,  and  the  teacher 
was  Mr.  J.  Seymour,  who  also  preached  on 
Sunday.  Owing  to  the  absence  of  sufficient 
funds,  it  ceased  some  years  afterwards,  and 
was  converted  into  a  Sunday  School.  In 
1849  there  were  23  names  on  tho  books,  and 
the  clergyman  in  charge  was  tho  Rev.  John 
Foster. 

So  far  as  the  oldest  inhabitant  can 
recollect,  the  first  Catholic  School  in 
Magherafelt  was  situated  in  the  Diamond,  in 
premises  at  present  occupied  by  Mr.  John 
Kane,  J. P.,  as  a  store-  The  school  was  then 
transferred  to  Garden  Street,  and  occupied 
that  part  of  upper  portion  of  the  premises 
occupied  by  Mr.  Joseph  Cowan,  next  to  Mr. 
Oliphant's  dwelling-house.  In  1849  it  was 
under  the  National  Board,  and  there  wero 
thirty  boys  on  the  rolls,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  25.  The  last  principal  was 
Mr.  Christopher  Trainor.  Subsequently  tho 
premises  were  found  unsuitable,  and 
negotiations  with  the  Salters'  Company  wero 
so  successful  that  they  not  only  erected  the 
school  building  in  King  Street  but,  in 
addition,  kept  it  in  fuel  and  repair.  It 
served  both  as  a  male  and  female  school,  and 
was  opened  on  the  5th  February,  18G1,  Mr. 
Christopher  Trainor  having  charge  of  the 
boys,  and  Miss  O'Hara  (now  Mis.  Ludlow) 
the  giids.  Mr.  Trainor  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
James  M'Killip.  Afterwards  Mr.  James 
M'Goldrick,  from  Armagh,  was  appointed. 
It  was  then  a  desirable  school,  with  a  local 
aid  of  £25.  The  next  teacher  was  Mr-  J. 
Maguire,  followed  by  Mr.  John  M'Bride. 
Mr.  Maguire  returned,  and  after  a 
lengthened  period  of  faithful  service  he 
resigned,  and  Mr.  Matthew  J.  O'Neill,  the 
present  popular  and  efficient  teacher,  took 
charge.  Miss  O'Hara  continued  as  principal 
of  the  girls'  section  till  1899  when,  after  28 
years  of  faithful  service,  she  resigned,  and 
the  children  were  transferred  to  the  Convent, 
where  they  were  taken  charge  of  by  the 
teaching  Sisters — a  very  fine  school  having 
been  erected  for  their  accommodation.  The 
school  in  King  Street,  which  up  to  1889  did 
duty  for  both  girls  and  boys,  was  considered 
insufficient,  and  the  present  boys'  school 
was  erected  in  that  year-  Mr.  O'Neill's 
assistant  is  Mr.  James  Caraher,  and  tho 
school  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Coolshinr.ey  National  School  is  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  district.  In  1S49  there  were  39 
males  and  30  females  on  the  rolls,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  42.  It  was  then  in 
connection  with  tho  Church  Education 
Society,  and  remained  under  its  jurisdiction 
till  18G3,  when  it  was  transferred  to  tho 
National  Board.     The    salary  of   the  teacher 


70 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


was  £9  5e  Od,  made  up  of  a  salary  of  £5 
from  Lord  Londonderry  and  Sir  Robert  Bate- 
eon;  £4  from  the  scholars,  and  5s,  value  of 
grass  on  school  yard.  This  school  was 
situated  on  the  freehold  possessed  by  the 
Rev.  R.  Olpherts  and  others,  and  it  extended 
its  usefulness  to  the  population  on  the 
Salters'  property  and  tho  Megargy  freehold- 
The  school  was  one  of  the  Endowed  Schools, 
into  whose  efficiency  the  Endowed  School 
Commissioners  enquired  in  1856.  It  was 
endowed  by  the  Rev.  Richard  Olpherts,  who 
held  a  lease  from  tho  Salters'  Company  for 
99  years,  from  the  1st  January,  1827.  The 
Commissioners  found  that  the  master  was 
enjoying  the  princolv  salary  (exclusive  of 
school  fees)  of  £9*10s  Od,  of  which  the* 
Salters'  Company  paid  £7,  and  the  Drapers' 
Company  £2  10s  Od.  The  school  was 
capable  of  affording  accommodation  for  98 
pupils,  but  there  was  only  46  on  the  rolls — 
35  Presbyterians,  9  United  Church,  and  2 
Roman  Catholics  —  with  an  average 
attendance  of  22.  On  the  23rd  September, 
1856,  Mr.  "William  Dwyer  Ferguson,  LL.D., 
one  of  the  assistant  commissioners,  visited 
the  school  and  reported  as  follows: — "Tho 
"warming  is  very  defective,  and  indeed  the 
"room  was  wretchedly  cold  on  the  day  of  my 
"visit-  The  flooring  is  of  earth  and  very 
"unfit  for  poor  children's  feet  in  winter.  Of 
"those  present  there  were  but  two  whom  I 
"could  examine;  they  were  aged  thirteen 
"and  twelve  years.  Their  writing  from 
"dictation  was  very  bad.  They  could  not 
"answer  anything  in  grammar  or  geography 
" — one  boy  said  Dublin  was  on  the  river 
"Thames.  In  arithmetic  they  answered 
"respectably.  The  clay  having  been  very 
"severe,  and  the  harvest  time  at  hand,  I 
"cannot  say  whether  the  eight  pupils  present 
"formed  a  fair  specimen."  The  first  teacher 
of  the  school,  under  the  National  Board,  was 
a  Mr.  Falone,  and  on  his  resignation  a  Mr. 
Murdoch  was  appointed-  In  addition  to 
imparting  knowledge  to  the  pupils  during 
sohool  hours,  he  was  an  expert  in  curing 
that  deadly  disease,  cancer,  and  afflicted 
persons  from  all  parts  of  the  country  visited 
Coolshinney,  and  it  is  said  they  received 
great  benefit.  Mr.  Murdock  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Conn.  The  school  was  then  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  and  a  Miss  Ellis  (now 
Mrs.  Samuel  Palmer)  was  appointed 
assistant.  The  school  had  been  under  tho 
managership  of  tho  Rector  of  Magherafelt 
till  1880,  when  it  was  transferred  to  tho 
Minister  of  First  Magherafelt,  under  whoso 
managership  it  still  remains.  Mr.  Conn 
resigned  in  1891,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr- 
David  Orr,  who  remained  ten  years  in  charge, 
when  he  resigned  on  securing  tho  principal- 
ship  of  Castleblaney  N.S.  He  was  followed 
by  Mr.  Malone  who,  in  1907,  gave  place  to 
Mr.  J.  M'llwrath,  the  present  excellent 
and  successful  teacher.  He  is  assisted  by 
Miss  Semple,  workmistress. 


Aughrim  National  School.  Thia  school  is 
situated  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
Magherafelt,  and  was  built  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  18th  Century  by  the  Church 
Education  Society,  assisted  by  local 
funds.  In  1837  there  were  179  scholars 
(boys  and  girls)  in  attendance,  and  the 
master's  wife  taught  the  girls  for  two 
hours  each  day-  For  this  service  tho  Salters' 
Co-  paid  her  £2  12s  6d  per  annum,  and  Lady 
Bateson  contributed  a  similar  sum.  This 
satisfactory  attendance,  however,  did  not  con- 
tinue for  any  considerable  period,  for  in  1849 
there  were  oidy  80  pupils  on  the  roll  (4G  boys 
and  34  girls),  with  an  average  attendance  of 
40.  Tho  master  at  this  period  was  Mr. 
Edward  Bear,  and  his  salary  was  made  up  as 
follows : — 

From  Lord    Londonderry     and    Sir 

Robert  Bateson  £5  0  0 
,,     Lady     Bateson    and     Salters' 

Co.  to  the  Mistress  4  12  C 

,,     Scholars  4  0  0 

„     Church  Education  Society  1  10  0 

..     House  and  Land  2  10  0 


£17  12    6 


Th«  school  building  was  adequate,  and  the 
school  was  well  conducted.  Mr.  Bear,  having 
been  appointed  master  of  the  Rainey  School 
on  11th  December,  1851,  was  succeeded  by  a 
Mr.  Bradley,  who,  in  turn  gave  place  to  a 
Mr.  Achenson,  and  who  was  followed  by  Mr. 
Dailey.  Up  to  the  year  1887  the  sehoo'l  was 
under  the  control  of  the  Salters'  Company, 
who  paid  the  teacher's  salary,  their  agents 
acting  as  managers.  Upon  the  Company 
disposing  of  their  estate,  tho  school  and 
teacher's  residence  which  they  had  built  were 
handed  over  to  the  Diocesan  Trustees  of  the 
Dioccse  of  Armagh. 

In  the  year  1887  the  school  was  placed 
under  the  National  Board,  and  the  first 
teacher  under  this  regime  was  Mr.  Robert 
Dailey,  who  had  keen  principal  of  Moyola 
Park  School,  Castledawson,  and  ho  took  up 
duty  on  1st  July,  1887.  He  continued  for 
fifteen  years,  and  retired  on  pension  in  1902- 
Mr.  John  J.  Bell  was  then  appointed,  but 
resigned  in  1905.  Ho  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother— Mr.  George  Boll— and  three  months 
later  a  fully  qualified  assistant  was  appointed 
—Miss  E.  Green.  Previous  to  this  there  was 
a  workmistress — the  last  one  being  Miss  Jane 
Jamison.  Mr-  George  Bell  resigned  in  1908, 
and  Mr.  N.  Ennis  took  up  duty,  and  con- 
tinued till  1913,  when  the  present  teacher, 
Mr.  R.  J.  F.  Hill,  took  charge,  and  he  is 
assisted  by  Mrs.  Hill,  assistant.  The 
building  of  a  new  school  is  under  con- 
sideration. The  manager  is  the  Rev.  F.  P. 
Dudley-Janns,  B.A.,  Rector  of  tho  Woods 
Parish. 


NATIONAL  SCHOOLS. 


71 


Aughagaekin  National  Sohool-  In  1849  this 
school  was  a  mixed  one,  and  was  in  connection 
with  the  National  Board.  There  were  70 
males  and  40  females  on  the  rolls,  with  an 
average  in  that  year  of  40.  The  salary  of  the 
teacher — Mr.  James  Keatley — was  £26 — 
viz.,  £18  from  the  National  Board  and  £8 
from  the  scholars.  The  Rev.  James  Wilson, 
minister  of  First  Magherafelt  Presbyterian 
Church,  was  the  manager,  and  in  reply  to  the 
deputation  of  the  Salters'  Company,  who 
visited  the  school,  stated  that  the  fees  from 
the  scholars  amounted  to  a  very  small  sum, 
owing  to  the  neighbourhood  being  poor  and 
the  inhabitants  unable  to  pay  for  the 
education  of  their  children.  The  teacher  was 
an  able  and  diligent  man,  and  in  later  years 
his  ability  drew  scholars  from  Magherafelt, 
Castledawson,  etc-  It  was  a  common 
occurrence  for  teachers  from  surrounding 
schools  to  invoko  the  assistance  of  Master 
Keatley  in  solving  difficult  problems,  of 
which  it  seems  he  was  a  past  master.  It  is 
also  said  he  was  even  consulted  by  Inspectors. 
The  school  buildings  became  unsuitable,  and 
a  new  school  was  built  by  the  Salters'  Com- 
pany in  1862.  Mr.  Keatley  being  the  first 
teacher,  on  bis  resigning,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Richardson,  from  the  Draperstown 
district.  The  next  teacher  was  a  Mr. 
Henderson  from  the  Blackhill  district,  and 
he  was  succeeded  by  Miss  J-  H.  Henry,  now 
Mrs.  Houston,  who  was  appointed  on  23rd 
February,  1884.  Miss  Henry  remained  in 
charge  only  a  short  time,  and  was  followed  by 
Mr.  R.  G.  Fulton.  A  Miss  M'Laughlin  was 
appointed  on  the  1st  April,  1886,  and  left  on 
the  30th  September,  1887.  The  next  teacher 
was  Miss  Johnston,  now  Mrs-  Logan,  who 
took  charge  on  the  31st  October,  1887,  and 
continued  for  a  good  number  of  years.  The 
last  teacher  was  Miss  Lilly,  now  Mrs. 
Hutchinson,  and  owing  to  the  tendency 
which  had  been  growing  for  a  considerable 
time  previously,  of  parents  sending  their 
children  to  the  schools  in  Magherafelt — the 
atendance  became  so  small  that  the  school  was 
closed  as  such  in  1907-  The  School  building 
is  vested  in  the  Committee  of  Union  Road 
Church. 

Ballinderry  National  Sohool.  This  school 
was  erected  in  1849  from  parish  funds ;  was  a 
mixed  school ;  was  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Tisdall,  rector,  and  Rev-  J.  J.  Jackson, 
curate,  and  was  in  connection  with  the 
Church  Education  Society.  There  were  16 
males  and  11  females  on  the  rolls,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  20.  The  teacher's 
salary  amounted  to  £14  yearly — viz.,  £5 
from  the  Lord  Primate,  £5  from  the  Salters' 
Co.,  £3  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tisdall,  and  £1 
from  the  Rev-  J.  J.  Jackson.  The  school  is 
contiguous  to  the  church,  and  in  the  year  it 
was  erected  "seemed  likely  to  be  highly 
"beneficial  to  the  population  on  the  neigh- 
"bouring  part  of    the  Salters'     Estate."     It 


continued  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Church  Education  Society  till  1877,  when  it 
came  under  the  National  Board.  The  pre- 
sent teacher  is  Mr.  Charles  Fleming,  and 
the  school  is  in  a  flourishing  state.  Mr.  R. 
J.  Hickey,  Killymuck,  was  teacher  in  this 
school  for  a  lengthened  period,  and  is  now 
enjoying  a  well-earned  pension- 

Qortagilly  National  School.  This  school, 
in  1849,  was  undor  the  National  Board  of 
Education,  and  in  connection  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  There  were  49  males 
and  27  females  on  the  rolls,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  40.  The  salary  of  the  teacher 
was  £25  yearly — viz.,  £14  from  the  National 
Board,  £8  from  the  scholars,  and  £3  valuo  of 
house  and  land.  So  far  as  is  known,  the  first 
principal  was  a  Mr.  Morrow,  who  taught  in 
the  old  school,  which  was  situated  in  a  corner 
of  the  field  opposite  the  present  school.  He 
continued  till  1870-  The  present  school  was 
built  in  1876,  consequently  he  was  also 
principal  of  the  school  for  three  years,  and 
died  in  1870.  The  present  school  was  built 
by  the  Salters'  Company,  who  gave  three 
acres  of  land  free,  and  also  built  a  good 
dwelling-house  for  the  teacher,  the  agent  of 
the  Salters'  Company  being  manager.  At 
the  sale  of  the  Estate,  the  Salters'  Company 
handed  the  school  over  to  the  Rector  of 
Moneymoro— the  Rev.  W.  Sparrow— two- 
thirds  of  the  children  in  attendance  belonging 
to  the  Church  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Bell  took 
charge  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Morrow,  with  a 
Miss  Dearing  as  assistant  Mr.  Bell  con- 
tinued till  1890,  when  Miss  Hearing,  then 
Mis.  Kernoghan,  succeeded  him.  Mrs. 
Kernoghan  resigned  in  1895,  when  Miss 
Andrews  was  appointed.  She  taught  till 
1901,  and  was  followed  by  Mr.  White, 
with  Miss  Kingston  as  assistant.  The 
present  teacher  is  Mr.  J.  M'Fadden. 
Previous  to  the  National  Board  doing  away 
with  the  teaching  of  agriculture  in  National 
Schools,  Gortagilly  was  an  agricultural 
school.  The  land  was  laid  out  as  a  model 
farm  on  a  small  scale,  and  the  Salters' 
Company  paid  a  donation  of  £10  to  th» 
teacher.  The  school  has  a  pretty  good  record, 
and  amongst  those  who  graduated  there  were 
Rev.  Mr.  Smvth,  Belfast ;  Rev.  James 
Marshall,  Mr.  R.  Harris,  M.R.CV.S.,  and 
Mr.  R.  Cousley,  Redford  House. 

If  ancient  origin  bo  any  aggrandisement  in 
these  modern  days,  then  Ballymulderg 
school  can,  it  seems,  boast  that  it  was  one  of 
the  first— if  not  the  very  first  school  in 
Ulster  under  the  National  Board.  It  appears, 
however,  that  this  claim  is  disputed  by  a 
school  in  the  picturesque  vale  of  Glenariffe. 
Ballymuklerg  School  was  first  taught  by  a 
Mr.  John  Walls  (an  ancestor  of  the  present 
family  residing  in  the  neighbourhood).  He 
was  a  learned  classical  scholar,  to  whom 
6tudents  from  all  parts  of  the  country  came 
to    be    prepared     for    the    clerical,  legal    or 


72 


HISTORY  OF  M  AGHERAFELT. 


medical  profession.  The  school  was  then 
situated  on  the  land  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
John  M'Nicholl.  The  manager  was  a  Father 
Vincent,  and  the  period  some  85  years  ago. 
It  would  appear  that  Mr.  Walls  was  a  teacher 
of  surpassing  excellence,  much  respected  by 
his  pupils — one  of  whom,  Mr.  Eugene  Con- 
ville,  head  Inspector  of  National  Schools,  with 
uncommon  thoughtfulness  and  gratitude, 
erectod  a  monument  to  his  memory,  which 
can  bo  seen  in  the  Old  Eglish  Churchyard. 

The  location  of  the  school  seems  to  have 
varied  with  the  appointment  of  teachers,  for 
we  next  find  a  record  of  the  school  being 
installed  in  a  barn  and  taught  by  a  Mr. 
Bernard  Keevin.  Next  wo  find  it  in  a 
dwelling-house,  and  taught  by  Mr.  James 
Agnew — father  of  Mr.  Henry  Agnew,  Bally- 
mulderg.  The  dwelling-houso  was  the  pro- 
perty of  Mr.  James  Flanagan — the  teacher's 
uncle — and  is  still  in  existence.  Mr.  Agnew 
taught  here  faithfully  and  well  for  many 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  James 
Mallon,  who  was  accidentally  killed.  He  was 
followed  by  a  Mr.  Patrick  M'Crystal.  During 
his  term  of  office  the  then  manager— Rev.  T. 
Larkin,  Moneymore — approached  the 

Salters'  Company  for  a  suitable  site  on  which 
to  build  a  school,  but  for  some  cause  or  other 
the  efforts  of  the  manager  did  not  succeed. 
It  was  then  a  local  landowner — our  townsman, 
Mr.  Louis  Smyth— who  has  always  evinced  the 
keenest  interest  in  educational  matters, 
stepped  into  the  breach  and  offered  one  of  his 
fields  for  the  purpose.  This  was  accepted, 
and  the  school  was  built  and  re-opened  as  a 
National  School  on  the  6th  May,  1873.  Mr. 
M'Crystal  continued  teaching  tiil  he  resigned 
in  1895,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Teany,  who  died  in  1905.  During 
the  reigns  of  these  teachers  the  school  had  a 
Bplondid  record— turning  out  many  brilliant 
scholars— amongst  them  Mr.  Hugh  O'Neill, 
brother  of  Mr.  Patrick  O'Neill,  Ballymul- 
<lerg,  now  one  of  the  foremost  barristers  in 
the  United  States,  and  who  is  also  a  nephew 
of  Mr.  Louis  Smyth.  Since  Mr.  Teany'a 
death  the  school  has  been  under  the  principal 
ship  of  Mrs.  O'Kane.  The  manager  is  the 
Rev.  O.  M'Eleavy,  P.P.,  Moneymore,  and 
this  learned  and  e'steemed  cleric  has  spared 
neither  time  nor  money  to  help  in  the  needs  of 
the  school  which  is  now  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. 

In  1849  there  was  an  additional  school  in 
this  townland,  and  was  attended  by  both 
males  and  females,  and  the  average  attend- 
ance was  26.  The  salary  amounted  to  £9  :— 
£5  from  Lord  Londonderry  and  Sir  Robert 
Bateson;  £2  from  the  Scholars,  and  £2 
value  of  house  and  land.  At  the  sale  of  the 
estate  the  school  was  handed  over  to 
Satlersland  Congregation,  but  since  then  it 
has  ceased  to  exist — due  to  a  number  of 
children  coming  into  the  town  schools  and  to 
emigration. 


Ballyronan  School.  When  the  deputation 
from  the  Salters'  Company  visited  this  school 
in  1849,  they  found  there  were  40  males  and 
28  females  on  the  rolls,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  40,  and  the  salary  amounted  to 
£8 — viz.,  £5  from  Lord  Londonderry  and  Sir 
Robert  Bateson,  and  £3  from  the  scholars-  It 
was  under  the  Church  Education  Society,  and 
the  school  building  was  in  good  order  and  well 
situated.  At  that  period  there  was  also  a 
female  school  on  the  rolls,  of  which  there 
were  34  pupils,  with  an  average  attendance 
of  25.  The  salary  was  larger  than  that 
recorded  as  received  by  the  principal  of  tho 
mixed  school— being  £11.  The  schools  seemed 
to  have  been  well  conducted.  The  schools 
were  evidently  amalgamated  in  1858,  as  in 
December  of  that  year  we  find  it  was  opened 
as  a  National  School.  The  present  teachers 
are  Mr.  J.  Kcatley,  principal,  and  Miss  A. 
Clarke,  assistant,  and  the  school  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

Lisnamorrow  School,  in  1849,  had  43  males 
and  24  females  on  the  roll,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  25.  The  salary  amounted  to 
£15  14s  0d— viz.,  £5  from  the  trustees  of  tho 
Salters'  Estate  ;  £4  4s  Od  from  the  clergy- 
men of  the  Woods  Parish;  £2  10s  Od  from  the 
Church  Education  Society,  with  which  it  was 
in  connection,  and  £4  from  the  scholars. 
The  school  building  was  then  too  confined, 
and  a  separate  building  seemed  to  be  required 
in  order  to  divide  the  boys  from  the  girls. 
The  Salters'  Company  evidently  erected  a  new 
building  for  this  school  is  the  only  one  of  the 
three  belonging  to  the  Woods  Parish  that 
possesses  the  Salters'  Coat  of  Arms.  It  was 
re-opened  as  a  National  School  in  1872,  under 
a  Miss  Hannah  Clarke  as  teacher.  The  pre- 
sent teachers  are  Mrs.  F.  A.  Kcatley, 
principal,  and  Miss  A.  Woodond,  junior 
assistant,  and  the  school  is  in  a  very  thriving 
condition.  The  deputation  of  the  Salters 
vi:-ited  in  1849  all  the  schools  mentioned  in 
these  sketches,  and  considered  it  incumbent 
on  them  to  bestow  £22  10s  Od  as  a  token  of 
approbation  amongst  the  several  principals. 
They  also  added  a  sum  of  £14  for  distribution 
amongt  the  scholars  to  encourage  them  in 
their  studies. 

Drumrainey  National  School.  The  present 
school  buildings  were  erected  by  the  Salters' 
Company  in  1864.  Prior  to  that  date  the 
building  which  served  as  a  school  was  situated 
down  the  lane  convenient  to  "Willowba'ik" 
Cottage.  It  was  an  old  thatched  house 
belonging  to  a  man  called  Corhett.  Tho 
school  was  held  in  one  "end,"  and  when  that 
portion  required  repair,  the  scholars  >vero 
transferred  to  tho  other  "end."  The  date 
when  it  was  erected  is  not  known,  nor  are 
the  names  of  all  the  teachers  remembered. 
But  so  far  as  an  old  pupil  of  the  school,  resi- 
dent in  the  district,  can  throw  his  memory 
back,  he  recollected  hearing  of  two  teachers 
who  preceded  Master  Hughes,  the  last  teacher 


NATIONAL  SCHOOLS. 


of  the  old,  and  first  of  the  new  school—  viz., 
Masters  Mellon  and  Devlin.  He  tells  of  the 
many  tussles  which  occurred  during  tho 
winter  time  to  obtain  a  seat  on  the  "chair  of 
state,"  which  consisted  of  the  stump  of  a  tieo 
situated  close  to  the  fire.  It  seems  that  s-o 
"hot"  did  the  struggles  for  possession  become 
that  the  master  was  perforced  to  consign  tlio 
chair  to  the  flames.  He  further  mentions 
that,  every  pupil  was  obliged  to  bring,  iiuing 
winter,  two  turf  each  morning  as  his  contri- 
bution to  the  heating  of  the  schoolroom;  and 
so  watchful  an  eye  did  the  master  keep  to  see 
that  each  pupil  carried  out  his  obligation, 
that  when  he  detected  an  erring  one  he  imme- 
diately called  out — "James,  come  and  put 
your  turf  in  the  box'-' — and  it  is  said  that 
rather  than  be  called  out  publically  on  a 
second  occasion,  any  turf  static  that" lay  in 
the  path  of  the  pupil  was  commandeered  to 
supply  the  deficiency. 

Tales  are  told  of  pupils  delaying  along  tho 
way  to  school  to  have  a  game  of  marbles,  and 
so  exciting  did  the  games  become  that  it  re- 
quired a  stroke  of  a  hazel  rod  from  the  hand 
of  the  master  to  remind  them  of  the  fact  that 
they  should  have  been  in  school. 

As  already  stated,  Master  Hughes  was  tho 
first  teacher  of  the  present  school,  and  after 
long  and  faithful  services  he  retired.  A 
complete  list  of  the  teachers  is  not  locally 
extant,  but  amongst  those  who  did  duly  wore 
Miss  Mason,  Miss  Redfern  (now  Mrs.  Craw- 
ford, principal  of  Kilcronaghan),  Miss  Henry 
and  Mr.  John  Keightley.  At  this  time  tho 
attendance  at  the  school  was  so  low  that  it 
was  struck  off  the  National  Board  List. 
Miss  Gilmore  (daughter  of  Mr.  Richard 
Gilmore,  Luney,  ex-master  of  the  workhouse1 
was  appointed  by  the  late  Prebendary  Jordan, 
D.U.,  manager,  and  after  a  short  time  she  had 
the  school  put  under  capitation.  Miss 
Gilmore  died  in  1S93,  and  Mrs.  Spcers— -the 
present  teacher  (then  Miss  Mawhinney)— who 
was  acting  as  substitute  for  Miss  Gilmore, 
was  appointed,  and  succeeded  in  having  it 
restored  to  tho  permanent  list  as  a  National 
School,  and  her  sister — now  Mrs.  Anderson — 
was  appointed  J. A.M.  She  subsequently 
resigned,  and  the  present  J. A.M.,  Miss 
Overend,  took  up  duty. 

Tho  Loop  National  School  is  next  to  Bally- 
mulderg — the  second  oldest  in  the  locality. 
It  was  situated  in  the  old  chapelyard,  con- 
venient to  the  present  site,  with  the  teacher's 
residence  underneath.  A  Mr.  Devlin,  who 
taught  about  80  years  ago,  was  the  first 
teacher,  and  was  a  good  Latin  scholar.  A 
number  of  the  clergy  of  the  Dioceses  of 
Armagh,  Down  and  Connor,  and  Deny,  and 
professional  men  received  their  early  training 


with  him,  including  Mev.  Father  Larkin, 
Mark  M'Guckin,  James  Quinn,  John  Quinn, 
and  Drs.  Boll,  Smyth,  etc.  Mr.  Devlin  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  H.  Conwell,  who  emigrated 
to  Australia,  and  Mr.  Agnew  was  appointed. 
In  1849  there  were  39  males  and  25  females 
on  the  rolls,  with  an  average  of  32,  and  the 
salary  from  tho  National  Board  was  £10  per 
annum,  with  £2  12s  3d  from  tho  scholars. 
The  present  school  was  built  by  local  funds  in 
a  part  of  the  grounds  attached  to  the  new 
Chapel,  by  the  Itev.  P.  Quinn,  P.P.,  in  1861. 
Mr.  Agnew  was  transferred  from  the  old 
school  to  the  new,  and  during  his  tenure  of 
office  he  turned  out  many  talented  men,  in- 
cluding Messrs.  Louis  Smyth,  Francis 
"Scullan,  merchants,  and  Mark  MTvor,  James 
Agnew  and  John  Murphy,  excise  officers; 
Messrs. ^  Gillespie,  teachers,  etc.,  and  tho 
Rev.  W.  Conwell,  etc.  Mr.  Agnew  was 
succeeded  by  the  present  successful  teacher, 
Mr.  Charles  Monaghan,  who  was  appointed 
in  1882  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Larkin,  P.P., 
who  became  manager  in  1874.  During  his 
term  as  principal,  the  school  has  maintained 
its  high  standard,  and  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  Amongst  those  who  have  been 
taught  by  Mr.  Monaghan  in  their  primary 
course  at  Tho  Loop  are  Rev.  J.  Smyth,  O.P., 
and  Rev.  N.  Harbison,  Passionist,  Ardoyne. 
Mr.  H.  O'Neill,  nephew  of  Mr.  L.  Smyth, 
completed  his  monitorial  course,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  leading  lights  at  the  American  Bar. 
Mr.  Teany,  late  teacher  of  Ballymuldcrg 
National  School,  served  his  term  of  monitor- 
ship  iu  The  Loop  school,  and  received  his 
appointment  from  the  Rev.  Father  Larkin, 
and  in  addition  the  following  obtained  places 
in  the  training  colleges: — Messrs.  T.  Devlin, 
P.  Malone,  Charles  Monaghan,  and  John 
Monaghan,  undcr-graduate  R.U.I.  Tho  pre- 
sent manager,  Rev.  0.  M'Eleavy,  P.P.,  is 
most  solicituous  for  keeping  the  school  in 
proper  repair. 

In  1849,  in  addition  to  the  National 
Schools,  there  was  a  very  successful  Parochial 
Sunday  School  in  Magherafelt,  under  tho 
superintendence,  of  Mr.  James  Duncan.  It 
seems  there  were  177  males  and  188  females 
on  the  rolls,  with  an  average,  attendance  of 
300.  The  children  assembled  at  the  Court- 
house, and  the  number  of  teachers  were  13 
males  and  14  females.  The  school  was 
(!  ::J  er.eh  year  at  tho  latter  end  of 
December,  and  opened  the  1st  Sunday  in 
.March.  The  school  was  supported  by  an 
annual  subscription  of  £20  from  the  trustees 
of  the  estate,  and  by  strict  economy  thf1 
managers  were  enabled  to  support  the  school 
and  also  keep  up  a  library. 


7G   *IC 


I1IST0RY  OF  MAGHERAFELT- 


The  Union  of  Maghcrafelt,  which  occupies 
one-third  of  the  County,  was  formed  by 
order  of  the  Poor-Law  Commissioners,  dated 
25th  November,  1839,  and  included  only 
twenty-four  divisions — the  Swateragh  Division 
not  being  included  in  the  Union  when  first 
formed.  The  first  election  of  guardians  took 
place  on  the  20th  December,  1839,  and  the 
following  were  elected  : — 

Maghcrafelt     Division — John       Duncan     and 

John  "Walker. 
Ballymogkan— John  Caldwell. 
The  Loop — John  Archer. 
Salterstown — James  Gaussen.. 
Castlodawson — John  Graves  and  James  Shiels- 
Bellagky — Andrew  Locky  and  Thomas  Ekiri. 
Moneymore— John  Scott. 
Maghera — David     Thompson     and     Matthew 

Lyttle. 
Gulladuff — John  Downing. 
Rocktown — James  Henry. 
Carnamoney — Alexander   Patterson. 
Tullykeeran — James  }J  'Kenna. 
Bancran — Hugh  Hagan. 
■Springhill — Henry   Thompson. 
Clady— Richard  Hunter. 
Inniscarn — David  Kenning. 
Moneyhaw — James  Stanton. 
Braekaghslievegallion — John  Mears. 
The  Six  Towns— Neal  M'Kelvey. 
Bally ron an — David   Gaussen. 
Tobermore — Samuel  M'Kane. 
Draperstown — James   Getty. 
Desertmartiii— \Ym-   Patterson. 
Lissan  Upper — James  Conlan. 

All  the  elected  guardians  were  present 
except  David  Kenning. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  2nd 
January,  18-10,  in  the  Town  Hall,  Maghera- 
felt,  and  in  addition  to  the  elected  guardians, 
there  were  present— Messrs.  Rowley  Millar, 
J.P.:  Andrew  Spotswood,  J. P.;  John  Steven- 
son, J. P.;  John  R.  Miller,  J.P. ;  Robert  L. 
Mauleverer,  JP.  ;  John  Hill,  J.P.  :  John  G. 
Lapentier,  J. P.,  as  ex-oflieio  guardians.  Mr. 
Rowley  Millar,  J. P.,  was  elected  chairman, 
Mr.  Andrew  Spotswood,  vice-chairman,  and 
Mr.   John  Stevenson,   deputy  vice-chairman. 

The  salary  of  the  Clerk  was  fixed  at  £40, 
and  there  were  five  applicants  for  the  position 
—all  from  Maghcrafelt— viz.,  William 
Thompson,  Richard  James,  Bernard 
M'Guckin,  Joseph  Brown  and  Joshua  Adams. 
Mr.  Richard  James  was  elected. 

Tho  Northern  Bank  was  appointed 
treasuer  of  the  Union.  They  offered  3i  per 
cent,  on  current  account,  and  to  charge 
nothing  for  advances,  as  against  the  Belfast 
Bank's  offer  of  3  per  cent,  on  credit  balance, 
and  5  per  cent,  on  advances. 

At  this  meeting  the  Assistant  Commis- 
sioner appointed  by  the  Poor-Law  Commis- 
sioners— Mr.  Clements— informed  the 


guardians  that  the  Commissioners  proposed 
to  add  Swateragh  division  to  the  Union- 
This  was  unanimously  agreed  to,  and  Messrs. 
Jacob  Moore  and  Neal  Collins  had  the  honour 
of  being  its  first  representatives. 

Tho  order  of  the  Poor-Law  Commissioners 
directed  that  until  tho  workhouse  was  fit  for 
tho  reception  of  the  Poor,  the  guardians 
were  to  hold  one  ordinary  meeting  at  least  in 
every  four  weeks,  and  it  was  agreed  to  hold 
the  meetings  in  the  Town  Hall. 

Tho  meetings  of  tho  Board  of  Guardians 
were  not  held  regularly  until  tho  Workhouse 
was  built,  but  as  occasion  required.  Some- 
times t\\  ice  monthly,  and  at  other  times  once 
monthly.  At  the.  second  meeting  which  was 
held  on  the  loth  February,  1810,  it  was 
resolved  that  Sergeant  Armstrong,  the 
caretaker  of  tho  Town  Hall,  provide  fires 
for  the  guardians  meetings,  for  which  Is  per 
day  was  to  be  allowed,  in  addition  to  Is  per 
day  for  attendance. 

It  was  also  resolved  that  for  the  proper 
valuation  of  the  rateable  property  within  the 
Union,  it  was  expedient  that  copies  of  tho 
Government  Valuation,  with  the  red  lines 
denoting  the  quality  of  each  description  of 
soil,  and  the  Field  Books  corresponding 
thereto  be  procured  at  the  least  possible 
expense,  and  furnished  to  tho  valuator  or 
valuators  for  their  information,  but  as  those 
documents  were  not  sufficient  in  themselves 
to  obtain  the  valuation  required  by  law,  it 
was  expedient  to  advertise  for  competent 
persons  to  undertake  the  work,  and  adver- 
tisements were  ordered  to  be  inserted  in  the 
DUBLIN        GENERAL  ADVERTISER, 

ULSTER  TIMES,  BELFAST  CHRONICLE, 
and  DFRRY  SENTINEL,  with  the  result 
that  Samuel  Eason,  of  Newtownlimavady, 
and  James  M'Gowan,  Moncyguiggy,  were 
appointed  to  make  the  valuation  at  tho 
remuneration  of  £1  7s  Od  per  each  thousand 
ae:es,  or  £210  gross,  the  valuation  to  be  com- 
pleted within  nine  months.  In  addition, 
they  were  to  be  allowed  10s  per  day  for 
attending  at  the  hearing  of  appeals  in  case 
their  valuation  was  sustained,  but  no 
remuneration  whatever  if  the  valuation  was 
decreased.  Circulars  were  sent  to  each 
owner  and  occupier  acquainting  them  of  the 
valuation  being  made, and  asking  them  to  givo 
the  valuators  every  assistance.  On  the  12th 
March  a  valuation  committee  was  appointed, 
consisting  of  Messrs-  Andrew  Spotswood, 
James  Henry,  John  Walker,  John  Duncan, 
John  Lapentier,  J.  Rowley  Miller,  and  John 
Mauleverer,  to  superintend  proceedings  of 
valuation,  and  to  hear  complaints.  At  the 
same  meeting  it  was  decided  to  have  a  work- 
house erected  capable  of  accommodating 
900  persons ;  the  Assistant  Commissioners 
stating  that  the  Commissioners  were  ii;  treaty 
with  the  Saltors'  Co.  for  a  lease  in  perpetuity 
of  a  site  at  a  nominal  rent,  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  raising    the  rent  to    tho  full 


TIIF    PO  OR  LAW. 


value  in  tlio  event  of  tlie  building  ceasing  to 
be  used  as  a  workhouse.  Several  of  the 
guardians  visited  the  site  and  declared  it  to 
be  a  most  eligible  one.  Messrs.  Gausscn  and 
Duncan  made  a  valuation  of  Lho  ground  fo:1 
the  workhouse   as  follows  : — 

To  Mr.  Boyd  £29  1(3     6 

Wm.  Ferguson  12     0     0 

Co.  Cess,  Spring,  1840  0     8     0 


£42  4  G 
and  a  paying  order  was  made  out  for  that 
amount,  and  on  the  9th  July  an  application 
for  a  loan  of  £8,100  was  made  to  the 
Exchequer  Bill  Loan  Commissioners-  The 
tender  of  Mr.  John  Millar,  of  Nev,  townarcls, 
to  build  the  workhouse  within  IS  months, 
for  £G,G00,  was  accepted  on  the  2nd  May, 
and  a  Mr.  Leonard  Williams  was  appointed 
Clerk  of  Works  at  £2  2s  Od  per  week. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in  the 
Town  Hall  on  1st  April,  1841,  when  the 
chairmen  already  in  office  were  re-elected. 
On  the  8th  April  the  proposal  of  Mr. 
William  Hastings,  Magherafelt,  to  make  a 
ditch  round  the  workhouse  at  6s  per  Irish 
perch  was  accepted.  The  making  of  the 
bedsteads,  tables  and  forms  was  entrusted  to 
a  Draperstown  man — Bernard  Murray— at  a 
cost  of  137  lis  Od,  while  the  supplying  of 
the  clothing,  at  £398  18s  lid,  and  bedding, 
at  £285,  was  secured  by  Thomas  Greer, 
Belfast.  It  was  subsequently  ascertained 
that  some  of  the  clothing  and  bedding 
articles  were  not  in  accordance  with  the 
sample,  and  the  sum  of  £85  5s  Gd  was 
deducted  from  the  amount  of  the  contract. 
Alexander  Hutchinson  secured  the  carpenter 
work  at  £142  0s  9d;  John  M'Guckin,  the 
cooper  work,  at  £14  6s  Gd,  and  Felix  Keenan, 
the  smith's  work,  at  £G  4s  Gd. 

The  salaries  of  the  intern  officers  were 
fixod  as  follows: — Master,  £20;  matron, 
£25 ;  schoolmaster,  £20  ;  Schoolmistress, 
£15,  and  Porter  £10,  with  uniform,  con- 
sisting of  blue  frock  coat,  waistcoat,  trousers 
and  hat — coat  to  have  red  collar  and  cull's 
and  gilt  buttons.  There  were,  also  41  chairs 
ordered  for  the  boardroom — one  of  them  to 
be  an  arm-chair  stuffed  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  chairman.  This  chair  is  still  in 
use,  but  only  as  an  ordinary  one,  it  having 
been  deposed  from  its  high  estate  during  the 
chairmanship  of  the  late  Mr.  Campbell 
Gaussen,  J. P.  The  first  officers  were  Robert 
Carse,  Newtownards,  master ;  Mrs.  Oarse, 
Lis  wife,  matron;  Benjamin  Beatty,  school- 
master; Miss  Ann  Montgomery,  school- 
mistress, and  James  M'Guiggan,  porter.  Dr. 
John  Stuart  Vesey  was  appointed  _  medical 
officer  at  £40  a  year.  These  appointments 
were  made  on  the  25th  November,  1841.  On 
the  20th  January,  1842,  a  rate  of  Is  in  the  £ 
was  struck  on  all  the  electoral  divisions,  and 
instructions  were  given  that  it  was  not  to  be 
collected  till  the  workhouse  was  opened- 


The  rate  collectors  appointed  were,  for  the 

Magherafelt  District— John  Archer,  jun. 

Draperstown   District— Peter  Duft'y,  jun. 

Maghera  District — James  Bradley. 

Bellaghy  District— Win.  Tomb. 

A  committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  A. 
Spotswood,  J. P.;  J-  Duncan,  J.  Walker,  G. 
Macarthur,  and  John  Caldwell  was  appointed 
to  have  supplied  whatever  furniture  and 
utensils  necessary  for  the  reception  of  the 
inmates,  and  to  secure  a  supply  of  turf,  and 
the  porter  to  attend  to  keep  up  fires  in  the 
officers'  quarters. 

The  officers  arrived  on  the  17th  February, 
1842,  and  directions  were  given  to  have  them 
supplied  with  necessary  provisions,  etc. 

The  successful  contractors  for  those  articles 
'were: — Mrs.  Margaret  M'Lernon,  Maghera- 
felt—Bread  at  2;d  per  lb.;  Mr.  Thomas 
M'Fall,  Magherafelt— Potatoes  3Jd  per 
stone,  new  milk  2d  per  quart,  oatmeal  12s  Gd 
per  cwt.,  oat  straw  £1  10s  0d  per  ton,  white 
soap  £2  per  cwt.,  and  clipped  candles  Gs  2d 
per  dozen  lbs-  Messrs.  William  Gaussen's 
tender  for  best  Whitehaven  coal  at  £1  5s  Od 
per  ton  was  accepted. 

The  workhouse  was  declared  fit  for  the 
reception  of  inmates  on  the  10th  March, 
1842,  and  on  the  following  day  fourteen  per- 
sons were  admitted,  and  an  Adam  Dickey,  of 
Aghagaskin,  was  the  first  person  whose  name 
was  entered  on  the  register.  The  first  meet- 
ing of  the  board,  held  in  the  workhouse,  was 
on  the  24th  March,  1842. 

The  Commissioners  notified  the  appoint- 
ment of  three  chaplains  at  £30  each,  viz.— 

Rev.  Thomas  Twigg— Established  Church. 

Rev.  James  Wilson— Presbyterian. 

Rev.  J.  Quinn,  P.P.— Roman  Catholic- 

Wednesday  was  appointed  the  visiting  day 
of  persons  wishing  to  see  the  workhouse, 
between  the  hours  of  one  and  three  o'clock, 
and  Tuesday,  between  the  hours  of  ten 
and  twelve  o'clock  for  relatives  of  inmates. 
This  latter  was  altered  to  the  last  Tuesday  in 
each  month. 

The  tender  of  James  M'Gowan  and  Thomas 
A.  Dixon  to  supply  buttermilk  at  one  shilling 
and  twopence  per  score  was  accepted. 

Tlio  guardians  resolved  not  to  place  the 
workhouse  schools  under  any  society. 

They  also  directed  the  visiting  committee 
to  procure  20  spinning  wheels,  2  reels  and  2 
pairs  of  wool  cards,  together  with  a  sufficient 
supply  of  tow  and  wool,  in  order  that  the 
female  paupers  might  be  set  to  work.  They 
further  directed  that  50  pairs  of  girth  web 
shoes  be  purchased  from  David  Graham  at  lid 
per  pair;  50  pairs  of  brogues  (without  nails) 
from  Wm.  Henry,  and  24  pairs  of  pumps  for 
women  from  Wm.  Henry-  At  the  subsequent 
meeting— 21st  April,  1842—  the.  tender  of 
Thomas  Leacock,  of    Magherafelt,  to  supply 


78 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


tlio  spinning  wheels  at  10s  each,  and  that  of 
John  Tohill,  of  Magherafelt,  for  the  supply 
of  wool  at  one  shilling  per  lb.  was  accepted. 
The  guardians  also  accepted  the  tender  of 
John  Moody  for  the  erection  of  the  piers  and 
gates  at  the  entrance  to  tlio  workhouse. 

Mr.  Richard  James,  tho  clerk,  died  on  the 
17th  November,  1842,  and  Mr.  Robert  A. 
Duncan,  Magherafelt,  became  the  second 
clerk  on  the  8th  December,  1842. 

It  can  quite  easily  bo  understood  that  the 
carrying  out  of  a  sj'stem  entirely  novel  to  tho 
people  of  the  country,  at  that  time,  required 
a  great  deal  of  tact  and  firmness,  and 
naturally  the  duties  of  the  intern  officials, 
especially  those  of  the  master  and  matron, 
were  laborious,  and  at  times  irksome.  At  the  • 
same  time  they  received  the  utmost  sympathy 
and  support  from  the  guardians,  who,  how- 
ever, were  kept  pretty  tight  to  the  mark  by 
the  Poor-Law  'Commissioners,  but,  on  tho 
whole,  everything  seemed  to  run  quite 
smoothly.  The  duties  of  the  guardians  were 
confined  within  certain  limits,  and  did  not 
assume  the  responsibility  which  is,  at  tho 
present  period,  thrown  upon  them.  To-day  it 
would  be  considered  novel  for  the  master  to 
make  applications  to  the  Board  for  inmates 
to  be  allowed  out  for  several  days  for  various 
purposes,  but  at  first  this  was  the  rule. 
Several  inmates  were  allowed  out  to  see  their 
wives,  and  others  to  see  their  husbands.  An 
old  man  named  John  Graham  was  allowed  out 
for  three  days  to  enable  him  to  collect  debts 
due  him,  and  to  write  a  letter  to  Canada. 
John  Stewart  was  allowed  out  to  see  a 
brother  who  resided  at  The  Loop,  and  who 
was  in  a  dying  state,  and  from  whom  he 
expected  a  legacy.  An  old  woman  named 
M'Murray  got  out  for  the  purpose  of  disposing 
of  some  manure  she  had  prior  to  entering  the 
workhouse;  wliilo  another  woman  was  granted 
leavo  to  release  a  spinning  wheel  which  had 
been  in  the  "pawn"  since  she  became  an 
inmate.  Two  other  women  were  also  allowed 
out  to  renew  pawn  tickets,  and  two  men 
name  Tom  Smyth  and  John  M'Guckin,  who 
had  been  well  conducted  in  the  house,  were 
granted  three  days'  leave  to  "breathe  tho 
fresh  air  and  see  their  friends"  ;  while  a 
Patrick  Mackle  was  granted  two  weeks' 
leave  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  The 
guardians,  however,  were  very  jealous  of 
their  property,  as  they  declined  to  allow  a 
man  named  Francis  M'Guiro  to  take  a  wooden 
leg  out  with  him. 

The  diet  adopted  was  not  nearly  as  liberal 
or  varied  as  at  present  enjoyed.  It  consisted 
of  6  ozs.  oatmeal  and  half  a  pint  of  butter- 
milk for  breakfast,  3  lbs.  potatoes  and  half  a 
pint  of  butter-milk  for  dinner,  and  for  supper, 
3  ozs.  oatmeal  made  into  gruel.  This  was 
what  was  called  house  diet — for  men,  women 
and  children  above  nine  years.  After  some 
time  the  working  men  did  not  consider  it 
•ufficient  to  enable  them  to     faithfully  carry 


out  their  daily  task,  and  applied  to  tho 
guardians  for  a  more  substantial  menu,  and 
they  were  awarded  with  the  injunction  that 
if  they  made  any  further  complaint  they 
would  be  turned  out  of  tho  house.  Subse- 
quently, however,  the  master  reported  that  he 
had  given  the  inmates  a  nice  treat,  in  the 
shape  of  the  addition  of  a  little  pepper  mixed 
with  the  salt  for  dinner  ;  that  it  was  greatly 
relished,  and  cost  about  one  penny  per  day. 
The  master's  action  was  looked  upon  with 
favour  by  the  guardians,  and  no  further  com- 
plaints were  heard  for  some  time.  As  the 
first  Xmas  after  the  establishment  liad  been 
opened  approached,  the  guardians  considered 
it  their  duty  to  make  tho  lot  of  the  inmates 
as  happy  as  possible,  and  did  all  in  their 
power  to  leavo  happy  memories  of  the  first 
Xmas  day  in  the  workhouse.  To  enable  this 
to  be  fully  realised,  they  ordered  the  master 
to  purchase  180  lbs.  of  meat,  at  3d  per  lb., 
and  at  the  following  meeting  the  master 
intimated  that  he  had  faithfully  carried  out 
their  wishes,  and  at  the  same  time  saved  a 
halfpenny  per  lb.  Tho  customary  congratu- 
lations were  extended  to  him.  The  guardians 
little  thought  that  trouble  would  subse- 
quently arise  from  this  act  of  kindness  on 
their  part,  but  before  the  following  Easter 
passed  they  had  an  unpleasant  example  in 
the  shape  of  an  application  from  twelve  able- 
bodied  women  for  some  kind  of  a  treat  at 
Easter,  otherwise  they  would  shake  tho  dust 
of  the  institution  off  their  feet.  The 
guardians,  however,  rose  to  the  occasion, 
refused  the  application,  and  directed  tho 
master,  in  ease  he  saw  any  signs  of  trouble 
brewing,  to  discharge  the  applicants.  This 
had  the  desired  effect,  and  the  joyous  season 
passed  peacefully  over. 

Mr.  Beatty,  schoolmaster,  resigned  on  the 
3rd  November,  1842,  and  on  the  8th  Decem- 
ber a  Samuel  Neely  was  appointed.  He  evi- 
dently did  not  find  the  establishment  very 
congenial,  as  he  resigned  on  the  22nd  Decem- 
ber, and  on  the  29th  December  a  David 
Waugh  was  elected. 

In  January,  1843,  the  following  rate  was 
struck  on  the  several  electoral  divisions : — 
Magherafelt,  lOd  in  the  £  ;  Ballymoghan,  Cd ; 
The  Loop,  lOd;  Salterstown,  Is;  Ballyronan, 
Is;  Castledawson,  Bellaghy,  Clady,  Rock- 
town,  Gulladuff,  Maghera,  Tullykeeran, 
Carnamoney,  Draperstown,  Bancran,  Six 
Towns,  Lissan  Upper,  Moneyhaw,  Spring- 
hill,  B.S.  Gallion,  Inniscarn  and  Swateragh, 
6d  each;  Tobermore,  Is;  Moneymore,  8d, 
and  Desertmartin,  Is. 

The  want  of  an  hospital  for  the  treatment 
of  infectious  diseases  was  very  much  felt, 
and  the  Guardians  suggested  to  the  Poor- 
Law  Commissioners  that  the  male  idiot  ward 
which  was  not  occupied,  be  converted  into  an 
hospital.  This  suggestion  did  not  find  favour 
with  tho  Authorities,  and  on  the  21st  Septem- 
ber, 1843,  it    was    resolved  to    rent  a    small 


THE   POOR  LAW. 


70 


house  convenient  to  the  workhouse,  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  John  Walsh,  Mngherafelt,  and  fit 
it  up  as  a  temporary  fever  hospital.  This 
was  carried  into  effect  on  the  28th  September, 
1843,  and  four  persons  were  admitted  on  that 
date,  a  Biddy  Conway  being  placed  in  charge 
of  it. 

David  Waugh,  the  schoolmaster,  resigned 
on  4th  May,  1843,  and    on  the     29th    June, 

1843,  a  "Win.  Stanage  was  elected. 

The  tender  of  Mr.  Wm.  Miller  to  supply 
men's  shoes  at  4s  9d  per  pair  ;  women's  at 
2s  lid,  and  boys'  at  2s  lOd,  was  accepted 
on  26th  January,  1843. 

In  order  to  stimulate  home  industry,  tl^o 
guardians  decided  in  1843  to  have  the  house 
supplied  with  Irish  coal,  but  on  the  report  of 
the  master  that  it  was  very  dear  at  half  the 
price  of  English  ooal,  it  was  decided  to  dis- 
continue the  supply. 

So  economical  did  the  guardians  manage 
the  affairs  of  the  Union  that  no  rate  was 
necessary  to  be  struck  for  the  year  1844. 

Owing  to  a  great  number  of  husbands 
deserting  their  wives  and  families,  and 
mothers  deserting  their  children,  thus  leav- 
ing them  chargeable  on  the  rates,  the  clerk 
and  master  were  instructed  to  prepare  a  list 
of  such  persons,  and  have  it  circulated 
throughout  the  police  stations  in  Ireland,  and 
also  some  of  the  Scotch  towns,  offering  a 
reward  of  £1  Is  Od  for  their  apprehension. 
In  some  instances  this  method  had  the  desired 
effect. 

In  order  to  keep  the  female  inmates  fully 
employed,  a  quantity  of  wool  was  purchased, 
and  it  was  spun  into  drugget — the  wool 
being  dyed  previous  to  the  operation — the 
looms  being  placed  in  the  male  and  female 
idiot  wards.  Mats  were  also  made  b}'  the 
male  inmates. 

The  outside  wood  and  iron  work  of  the 
institution  was  painted  in  1844  by  a  James 
Armstrong,  Magherafelt,  for  £14  5s  Od, 
tho  guardians  providing  the  material. 
He  also  undertook  to  put  in  each  broken  pane 
for  the  sum  of  one  halfpenny. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  boys  should  be 
instructed  in  weaving,  and  for  thaf  purposo 
two  looms  were  purchased  from  James  Arm- 
strong, Magherafelt,  at  £3  10s  Od  each,  and  a 
James  M'Elderry  was  appointed  tho 
instructor,  and  his  hours  were  from  7  a.m. 
till  G  p.m.  each  week  day.  On  the  8th  August, 

1844,  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  fever  hospital 
capable  of  accommodating  forty  beds,  and  on 
the  24th  October  following,  the  tender  of 
Alexander  M'Cormack,  Oastledawson,  was 
accepted  at  £596,  and  the  first  stone  was  laid 
on  the  24th  February,  1845. 


The  Fever  Hospital  was  opened  for  the 
reception  of  patients  on  the  1st  January,  1846. 
and  a  certificate  from  a  clergyman  or  a 
medical  officer  was  necessary  for  admission. 
Dr.  J.  S-  Vesey  was  appointed  first  medical 
officer  of  the  Fever  Hospital  at  a  salary  of 
£20— making  a  total  salary  of  £60  for  the 
workhouse  and  hospital.  A  pauper  inmate, 
Elizabeth  Butler,  was  appointed  nurse  in 
hospital  at  £15  a  year. 

The  Guardians,  after  mature  consideration, 
decided  to  have  the  footwear  of  the  inmates 
made  in  the  house,  and  accepted  a  proposal 
from  Oliver  Peacock,  of  Magherafelt,  to  mako 
the  boots  and  teach  the  boys  the  trade  at  the 
remuneration  of  2s  6d  per  day. 

The  want  of  a  proper  water  supply  caused 
great  inconvenience, and  the  guardians  agreed 
to  have  a  well  sunk  in  the  male  idiot  ward, 
and  the  proposal  of  Edward  Donaghy, 
Magherafelt,  to  do  the  work  at  4s  4d  per 
perch  was  accepted-  Subsequently  tho 
Poor-Law  Commissioners  furnished  a  design 
of  a  suitable  pump — the- erection  of  which  was 
entrusted  to  Alex.  M'Cormack,  of  Castle- 
dawson,  for  a  sum  of  £27 — ho  undertaking 
to  keep  it  in  order  ofr  five  years. 

The  present  day  guardians  and  the  general 
public  would  consider  it  a  novel  proceeding  to 
have  the  banns  of  their  intended  marriage 
read  at  three  consecutive  meetings  of  tho 
guardians,  yet  this  was  the  custom  up  to  1864. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  master,  it 
was  ordered  that  a  lamp  with  rush  light  be 
placed  each  night  in  the  dormitories  of  the 
old  men  and  women,  female  idiot  ward,  and 
female  children.  This  novelty  was  of  short 
duration,  it  being  dispensed  with  after  two 
months'  trial. 

The  idea  of  general  or  union  rating  for  all 
expenses  is  not  now,  for  in  the  year  1846  it 
was  put  forward  with  great  force  at  tho 
meeting  of  the  guardians  on  the  5th  March, 
but  was  doomed  to  failure  owing  to  the  then 
existing  law-  It  remained,  however,  for  the 
Local  Government  Act,  1908,  to  consummate 
that  idea. 

Insubordination  in  the  house  at  this  time 
became  acute,  and  tho  ordinary  methods  of 
punishment  for  this  offence  not  proving 
efficacious,  tho  guardians,  in  face  of  a 
remonstrance  by  the  Commissioners,  ordered 
that  each  inmate  guilty  of  the  offence  (women 
included)  bo  compelled  to  break  stones.  It 
had  the  desired  effect,  and  that  after  a  short 
period  it  was  relaxed. 

An  ambulance  for  the  conveyance  of 
patients  to  the  fever  hospital  was  provided  by 
a  James  Cassidy,  of  Maghera,  for  the  sum  of 
£18. 


THE  TECHNICAL  SCHOOL. 


These  little  sketches  in  connection  with 
education  would  not  be  complete  without  some 
reference  to  the  Technical  School,  which  has 
boon  provided.  The  school  was  opened  so 
recently  as  1908,  that  it  will  be  sufficient  to 
mention  a  few  of  the  facts  connected  with 
its  establishment  in  Magherafclt,  which  has 
the  proud  boast  that  it  possesses  the  first 
provincial  Technical  School  in  Ireland.  Thi9 
is  principally  due  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Louis 
Smyth,  who  can  proudly  claim  the  title  of 
Father  of  Technical  Education  in  this" 
district.  On  the  1st  December,  1904,  Mr. 
Smyth,  who  was  then  a  member  of  tho 
Magherafelt  District  Council,  moved  that  tho 
council  urge  the  County  Council  to  put  inlo 
operation — not  alone  in  the  district,  but  in 
tho  County — tho  technical  part  of  the  agri- 
cultural system.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
what  has  turned  out  to  be  an  excellent  and 
successful  work.  On  the  19th  December, 
1907,  Mr.  Smyth  and  Mr.  Graham,  J.P.,  who 
is  also  an  enthusiastic  member  of  tho 
technical  committee,  were  nominated,  on 
behalf  of  the  District  Council,  to  discuss  with 
and  advise  the  County  Committee  as_  to  tho 
best  means  of  allocating  and  administering 
tho  funds  availablo  for  technical  and  agri- 
cultural purposes. 

Tho  efforts  put  forward  had  such  desired 
effect  that  in  the  month  of  October,  1908, 
tho  present  scheme  of  Technical  Education 
was  launched  in  Co.  Derry,  and  on  the  20th  of 
November  following  the  hist  school  was 
opened  in  Magherafelt  in  portion  of  tho 
promises  now  occupied  by  Messrs.  M'Causland 
Bros.,  in  Market  Street,  under  tho    following 


committee — viz.,  Col.  J.  J.  Clark,  D.L. ; 
Messrs.  Samuel  Porter,  J. P. ;  Robert 
M'Guckin,  solicitor;  Louis  Smyth,  Thomas 
Graham,  J. P.;  Joseph  Davison,  John  Park, 
W.  J.  Hamilton,  Thomas  Daley,  J.P.  Col. 
Clarke  was  appointed  chairman.  Tho 
District  Council  were  most  sympathetic  and 
passed  the  necessary  vote  for  a  rate  of  one 
farthing  in  the  £,  and  amongst  those  who 
strongly  advocated  the  great  benefits  of 
technical  education  were  Mr.  Davison,  Mr. 
Teady  M'Erlean,  and  the  late  Mr.  Samuel 
Porter,  J.P. 

Mr.  Adamson,  manager  of  the  local 
branch  of  the  Northern  Bank,  very 
generously  contributed  out  of  the  Taylor 
Trust  the  rent  of  the  school  buildings  yearly. 

The  scheme,  under  the  directorship  of  the 
painstaking  and  energetic  secretary  and 
principal,  Mr.  Vv.  D.  Cousins,  and  his 
excellent  staff  of  toachers,  became  so  success- 
ful, that  it  was  considered  imperatively 
necessary  to  have  new  premises,  and  on  the 
2nd  January,  1914,  the  present  school 
buildings — one  of  the  finest  in  Ulster — were 
opened  bv  Mrs.  Barrie— wife  of  Mr.  H.  T. 
Barrie,  M.P.  for  North  Deny,  and  Chairman 
of  the  County  Committee  of  Agriculture  and 
Technic.il  Instruction.  The  school  is  con- 
tinuing its  successful  career,  under  the 
guidance  of  tho  following  committee — Messrs. 
\V.  Adamson  (chairman),  John  Boden,  J.P.  ; 
Joseph  Davison,  Thomas  Graham,  J.P.  ;  W. 
J.  Hamilton,  Lawrence  Higgins,  J.P.; 
Thomas  Larkin,  Teady  M'Erlean,  Charles 
O'Hara,  J.P.  ;  John  Park,  and  Louis  Smyth. 


THE  TOOR  LAW. 


The  relief  of  the  poor    distressed  "in  mind, 
body  or    estate,"  by     the     more    prosperous 
members  of  the     community,  has     for  gene- 
rations been  recognized  as  a  Christian  duty. 
Almsgiving  appears  to  have     been  inculcated 
by  the  most  primitive  nations  as  a    religious 
observance.     Some   of  the     European   nations 
of  antiquity  made  provision  for  the  poor  as  a 
matter     of  State     policy.     It     is     said     that 
Athens  at  one  time    boasted    that  it  had    no 
citizen  in     want,  "nor  did  any     disgrace  the 
nation  by  begging."     Up     to  the     middle  of 
the  14th  century,  pauperism  was  treated  as  a 
crime  in  England,  and     it    was  not    till  1383 
that  any  public  provision  was    made  for  the 
poor.     The     principle  of     compulsory    assist- 
ance was  introduced  in     the  reign    of  Henry 
the  Eighth-     In     1G01     an    Act     was    passed 
which  formed     the    basis  of     all     subsequent 
Poor-Law     legislation     in     England.     By     it 
every  inhabitant  of    every  parish  was    taxed 
for  the  relief  of     the  poor.     In  addition,  the 
Act  required    that    in  every    parish,  certain 
parties  called  churchwardens     and  overseers, 
with  the  consent  of     justices  of    the    peace, 
should    raise     money     for  the    relief  of    the 
impotent,  and    likewise    raise    a    convenient 
stock  of  flax,  hemp,  wool,     thread,  iron  and 
other  necessary  ware  and  stuff,  to  set  to  work 
poor  persons  who  had  no  means  to  maintain 
them.     They  were  not,  however,  to  purchase 
or  hire  a  workhouse.     This  Act  did     not  con- 
template giving     either     food  or     money     to 
able-bodied   persons,     except   in     return      for 
work.     But  it  appears     that     when  persons, 
apparently     destitute,  applied     to     overseers 
for     work,     if    they       (the       overseers)     had 
neglected  to  take  measures  to     supply  work, 
they  gave  money  without  requiring  any  work 
in  return.     And  this     appears  to  have     been 
tho  common  practice  towards  the  close  of  the 
17th   Century.     The     consequence   was     that 
on  increase  of  the  poor-rates  took  place,  and 
there  was  general     dissatisfaction    with    the 
mode  in     which    they     were     expended.     In 
enumerating  the  causes  of     tho     increase,     a 
Mr.    Richard    Dunning,       in       1G98— in       a 
pamphlet  on  the  subject— stated  "That    such 
"as  are  maintained    by     parish     pay  seldom 
"drink  any  other    than     the     strongest    ale- 
"house  beer,  and  seldom  eat  any    bread  save 
"what  is  made  by  the  finest    wheat  flour  sold 
"by  common  bakers."    And     in     reference  to 
the  excessive     parish     pay  to     the     poor,   as 
having  greatly   increased     extravagance   and 
idleness  in   them   and     discouraged     industry 
in   others — says     "the     allowance     commonly 
"given  to  persons    maintained     by     a  parish 
"being  three  times    as    much    as    an  honest 
"labourer,  who  with  his  wife  maintains  three 
"children,  can  afford  himself." 


An  Act  of  William  and  Mary,  passed  in 
1691,  provided  that  a  register  should  be  kept 
of  all  persons  relieved,  who  were  to  be 
examined  by  tho  vestry,  as  evil  had  arisen 
out  of  the  unlimited  power  given  to  the 
overseers,  who  gave  relief  "for  their  own 
private  ends." 

Many  efforts  were  made  during  the  reign 
of  the  "first  three  Georges  to  remedy  abuses. 
— one  provision  being  that  the  church- 
.wardena  and  overseers  of  a  parish,  with  tho 
consent  of  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants, 
were  empowered  to  purchase  or  hire  work- 
houses, in  which  they  might  keep,  maintain 
and  employ  all  poor  persons,  and  persons 
refusing  to  bo  kept  and  maintained  in  them 
were  declared  not  to  be  entitled  to  relief. 
Thus  the  workhouse  system,  which  was  so 
successful  in  Holland,  was  .introduced. 

In  1832  a  Commission  was  appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  administration  of  the  Poor- 
Law  in  England,  and  the  evidence  brought 
out  the  fact  that  the  integrity,  industry, 
independence  and  domestic  virtue  of  the 
lower  classes  were,  in  some  places,  almost 
extinct.  A  great  sourco  of  evil  arose 
through  granting  relief  to  the  able-bodied 
in  aid  of  wages.  In  1834  the  Commission 
reported  that  they  found  the  administration 
opposed  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  law, 
and  destructive  of  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. They  laid  down  the  principle  that 
the  condition  of  the  pauper  ought  to  be  below 
the  lowest  condition  of  the  independent 
labourer,  because  every  penny  spent  in 
making  his  condition  more  desirable  was  a 
bounty  on  indolence  and  vice.  In  1838  the 
Poor-Law  Act  was  extended  for  the  first  time 
to  Ireland,  and  was  moulded  principally  on 
tho  English  Act.  Prior  to  that  period  the 
duty  of  looking  after  tho  poor  devolved  on 
the  vesteries,  and  each  year  a  certain  amount 
was  levied  by  those  bodies  for  their  relief- 

In  1724  the  sum  of  forty  shillings  was 
directed  to  be  levied  off  the  Parish  of 
Magherafelt,  "for  the  maintenance  of  a 
child  left  upon  the  Parish."  In  1758  the 
sum  of  £3  was  ordered  "to  be  applotted  and 
levied  off  the  Parish,  for  the  support  of  an 
exposed  infant,  and  that  it  be  sent  to  tho 
Foundling  Hospital  in  Dublin-"  In  1798  tho 
sums  of  £2  2s  Od  and  £5  13  9  were  assessed 
for  the  support  of  Widows  M'Goah  and 
Gillespie,  and  in  1799  Widow  M'Geah's 
amount  was  increased  to  £2  5s  Od.  In 
addition,  "beggars"  were  licensed  and 
registered,  and  each  of  these  received  a  badge 
showing  they  were  authorised  to  seek  alms. 
In  1832  Wednesday  was  the  recognized  day 
for  begging  in  Magherafelt,  now  it  is  Friday. 


80 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Tlic  guardians  decided,  in  the  interests  of 
economy,  to  have  the  broad  for  use  of  the 
inmates  baked  in  the  workhouse,  and  accord- 
ingly they  had  an  oven  built  in  the  house.  It 
is  said  the  present  strong-room  in  which  the, 
Register  books  of  births,  deaths  and  marriages 
arc  deposited,  was  the  place  where  the  oven 
was  situated.  John  Wilson,  of  Maghera- 
felt,  was  appointed  baker  on  the  7th  January, 
1847,  at  the  remuneration  of  2s  9d  per  ewt. 
for  baking  coarse  bread,  and  2s  Cd  per  ewt. 
for  baking  bread  of  first  quality.  The  first 
delivery  of  bakers  first  flour,  and  also  oi 
second  quality,  was  taken  in  equal  pro- 
portions from  Muckamore  and  Ooalisland 
mills— a  load  each.  This  system  continued 
till  August,  1851,  when  the  practice  of  taking 
tenders  for  supplying  bread  was  reverted  to. 

Owing  to  the  failure  of  the  potato  crop  in 
1846,  distress  became  very  severe-  In 
February,  1847,  the  number  of  inmates  was 
900,  and  in  the  anticipation  that  this  number 
would  be  increased,  the  guardians  decided  to 
appoint  an  assistant  master  at  £1  per  month 
with  lodgings  and  rations,  and  James  Bell,  of 
Luney,  was  elected. 

At  this  period  a  Matilda  Jane.  Bcare,  of 
Aughrim,  was  appointed  nurse  tender  of  the 
infirmary  at  a  salary  of  £8  a  year.  She,  how- 
ever, was  found  incompetent  and  was  dis- 
charged after  a  month's  trial. 

The  distress  became  so  acute,  and 
the  number  of  applications  so  numerous, 
that  the  guardians,  in  order  to  cope  success- 
fully with  the  demand  for  admission,  decided 
to  meet  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Satur- 
days each  week.  For  the  week  ended  18th 
February,  1847,  there  were  118  admitted,  and 
175  persons  were  refused  admission.  On 
Saturday  night,  20th  February,  there  were 
1,000  inmates— 22  of  which  were  in  the  fever 
hospital,  and  on  the  following  Saturday 
there  wore  1,014  inmates,  and  126  were 
refused  admission-  As  the  workhouse  was 
built  to  accommodate  only  900  persons,  it 
became  necessary  to  build  temporary  accom- 
modation, and  Richard  Donnelly,  of 
Magherafelt,  was  the  successful  contractor 
for  the  erection  of  two  wooden  sheds  each 
80  feet  long — one  alongside  the  male  and  the 
other  alongside  the  female  yard  walls,  at  a 
cost  of  £134  18s— which  were  to  be  erected 
within  six  weeks,  and  when  erected,  were 
filled  in  a  very  short  time. 

To  add  to  the  already  enormous  difficulties 
fever  broko  out.  The  medical  officer,  Dr. 
Vcsey ;  the  master,  the  schoolmistress, 
assistant  master,  infirmary  and  fever 
nurses  caught  the  disease.  Dr.  Burke  was 
appointed  temporary  medical  officer-  It  is 
said  he  represented  the  Springhill  division  as 
a  guardian,  and  resigned  that  position  in 
June,  1847.  James  M'Cullough  was 
appointed  temporary  assistant  master,  at 
the  remuneration  of  5s  per  day,  and  Bridget 


Conway  was  appointed  temporary  fever 
.nurse  at  6s  per  week  and  rations.  So  rapidly 
did  the  fever  spread  that     on  the  8th     April 

1847,  there  were  317  cases  in  the  house,  and 
on  the  loth  April  the  number  reached  400. 
The  master  and  fever  Nurse  Butler  died,  and 
two  nurses  from  Belfast  were  employed  at 
10s  6d  per  week  with  rations.  The  Poor-Law 
Commissioners  wrote  that  owing  to  the  great 
number  of  fever  cases  they  had  applied  to 
the  Central  Board  of  Health,  and  that  body 
decided  to  send  down  Dr.  Whistler  to  confer 
with  the  guardians-  As  an  outcome  it  was 
resolved  to  build  two  large  sheds,  each  100 
feet  long,  and  the  successful  contractors 
were  John  Brown  and  Co-.,  Belfast,  the  cost 
being  £695.  They  were  to  be  built  within 
one  month — the  penalty  for  delay  being  £10 
per  day.  The  question  of  compounder  and 
dispenser  of  medicine  was  next  considered, 
and  it  was  thought  necessary  to  appoint  a 
person  to  this  office— Dr.  M'Clatchy,  of 
Castledawson,  securing  the  appointment  at 
£1  10s  0.1-  At  this  stage  Dr.  Bourke  got 
temporary  leave  of  absence,  and  Dr.  Gordon 
was  asked  to  act  for  him,  which  he  did. 

The  distress  throughout  the  union  was  met 
by  the  appointment  of  relief  committees 
under  the  Temporary  Relief  Act  which  tho 
Government  found  it  necessary  to  pass.  In 
each  division  a  relief  committee  was  formed, 
which  distributed  food,  consisting  principally 
of  oatmeal  and  Indian  meal  (cooked)  to  poor 
people,  and  the  sale  of  these  commodities 
(cooked)  to  others.  By  this  means  the 
distress  was,  to  a  great  extent  alleviated, 
although  a  good  deal  of  suffering  and  hard- 
ship occurred. 

In  order  to  assist  tho  committees,  and  to 
cope  with  the  destitution,  five  relieving 
officers  were  appointed,  viz. — Alexander 
Morrison,  Maghera  ;  Robert  George, 
Magherafelt ;  John  Pollock,  Bellaghy  ; 
James  Henry,  Draperstown,  and  Joseph 
Gibson,  Moneymore.  Subsequently  when 
tho  distress  was  successfully  coped  with,  tho 
guardians  resolved,     on     the    30th     August, 

1848,  that  the  salaries  of  the  relieving 
officers  should  cease — there  being  no  out-door 
relief  to  distribute.  Although  they  were  to 
bo  continued  in  office — and  when  it  again 
became  necessary  to  give  any  out-door  relief 
their  salaries  would  re-commence.  Tho 
relieving  officers,  to  their  credit  be  it  said, 
agreed,  but  the  Poor-Law  Commissioners 
vetoed  the  proposal,  holding  that  as  they  had 
been  appointed  officers,  they  were  entitled  to 
receive  their  salaries- 

Tho  distress  appealed  to  the  British  public, 
and  a  relief  association  was  formed,  with 
temporary  offices  in  Dublin,  under  the 
charge  of  Count  Strzelecki.  Under  his 
guidance  a  sum  of  £118,000  was  granted  to 
relieve  the  dire  necessity  which  existed, 
especially  in  the  south  and  west — £41,349 
being  allocated  to  the  County  of  Mayo.    The 


# 


AIR.  THOMAS  CKAIIA.M,  J.P 


Mil.   (HAS.   O'HARA.   .).!'.,  ('.('. 


-    £1 


MR.  ROOTLET  ELLIOTT,   J. 


All}..  J.  E.  O'NEILL,  J. V.,  0.0 


dBEh 


X 


f.    \ 


MR.  LOUIS  SMYTH. 


MR.  JOSEPH  DAVISON. 


MR.  WM.  HASTINGS, 

Clerk  of  Union  and  District  Council. 


THE  POOR  LAW. 


HI 


grants,  of  course,  were  made  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Poor-Law  Commissioners, 
and  special  inspectors  were  appointed  to 
assist  in  the  proper  administration  of  the 
funds.  The  Ulster  four  unions  were 
assisted— viz.,  Ballycastle,  Belfast,  Cavan 
and  Donegal,  in  the  following  respective 
amounts :— £10,  £50,   £300,   £1,300. 

The  poundage  rate  found  necessary  to  he 
assessod  at  this  period  in  the  Magherafelt 
union  for  the  ordinary  expenditure,  and  for 
the  repayment  of  advances  under  the 
Tcmporaiy  Relief  Act,  was  made  on  the  2nd 
November,  1818,  as  follows: — Magherafelt, 
3s  3d;  Ballymoghan,  4s;  The  Loop,  4s; 
Salterstown,  2s  3d  ;  Ballyronan,  4s  Gd  ; 
Castledawson,  2s  6d ;  Roektown,  Is  5d; 
Bellaghy,  Is  3d;  Clady,  6d ;  Gulladuff, 
Is  6d;  Maghera,  Is;  Tullykeerin,  6d ; 
Tobcrmore,  3s;  Carnamoiicy,  9d ;  Drapers- 
town,  6d;  Baneran,  8d;  The  Six  Towns,  Is; 
lnniscairn,  Gd ;  Dcsertmartin,  4s;  Lissan 
Upper,  Is;  Moneyhaw,  8d;  Springhill,  lOd  ; 
Moneymore,  Is  2d ;  Brackaslievegallion,  Is 
2s;   Swateragh,  Is  Gd. 

Subsequently  a  bill  was  introduced  in 
Parliament  for  a  special  rate  to  be  assessed 
in  aid  of  certain  unions  in  Connaught  and 
Minister-  Opposition  to  this  measure  was 
very  great  in  Ulster,  and  numerous 
petitions  were  forwarded  to  both  Houses  of 
Parliament  against  the  measure.  At  the 
suggestion  of  the  Magherafelt  Board  the 
then  Lieutenant  of  Co.  Deny  called  a  public 
meeting  of  protest,  which  was  held  in 
Limavady,  and  the  then  high  sheriff,  Mr.  J. 
J.  Clark,  was  directed  to  forward  a  petition 
against  the  proposed  measure.  Although 
the  opposition  was  very  great  the  Bill  would 
seem  to  have  been  passed,  and  by  order  of 
the  Poor-Law  Commissioners  a  sum, 
amounting  to  £322,5.52  lis  0d  was  assessed 
on  the  132  unions  in  Ireland— £1,880 
lis  Hid  being  the  proportion  which 
Magherafelt  union   was  to  contribute. 

At  this  stage  the  clerk,  Mr.  R.  A- 
Duncan,  was  appointed  temporary  inspector, 
and  one  of  the  vice-guardians  of  the  Mohill 
Union,  Co.  Leitrim — the  board  of  guardians 
of  that  union  having  been  dissolved.  The 
election  of  a  successor  to  the  clerkship 
becamo  necessary,  and  John  Steele,  Andrew 
Brown,  Robert  George  and  Hugh  M'Canney 
wore  the  candidates — with  the  result  that 
Mr.  Steele  (who  had  been  acting  as 
temporary  clerk,  and  had  been  a  candidate 
at  the  time  Mr.  Duncan  was  appointed)  was 
elected  by  a  largo  majority.  James  Johns- 
ton, of  Tullykeeran,  was  also  appointed 
porter,  and  Samuel  M'Conamy,  Tobcrmore, 
appointed  baker,  at  the  remuneration  of 
£10  for  three  months. 

In  January,  1848,  contracts  were  taken 
for  the  annual  supplies  of  groceries,  etc. 
The  price  paid  for  black    toa  was     4s  4d  per 


lb ,  and  sugar  6d  per  lb.  The  contract  for 
the  supply  of  wool  was  secured  by  the 
Hon.  and  Rev.  A.  W.  Pomeroy,  rector  of 
Dromore,  Dcsertmartin,  at  9d  per  lb- 

In  January,  1849,  the  number  of  inmates 
was  574,  and  a  good  deal  of  sickness  pro- 
vailed.  Dr.  Vesey  reported  that  there  were 
99  cases  in  the  fever  hospital  and  sheds — 7 
being  affected  with  fever.  There  wore  also 
73  in  the  infirmary,  and  dysentry  and 
diarrhoea,  with  English  cholera,  prevailed  to 
a  great  extent — there  being  45  eases. 
Whooping  cough  had  also  appeared,  and  he 
advised  that  buttermilk  and  treacle,  which 
wore  given  to  the  inmates,  were  not  fit 
articles  of  food  at  that  time-  At  the  follow- 
ing meeting  the  contractors  for  the  supply 
of  buttermilk  appeared  and  agreed  to  supply 
new  mills,  instead  at  7d  per  gallon.  Subse- 
quently, on  the  recommendation  of  the 
medical  officer,  the  male  and  female  adults 
were  ordered  to  bo  taken  out  for  exercise 
outside  the  workhouse  grounds  for  one  hour 
twice  weekly,  in  charge  of  the  master  and 
matron,  and  evidently  fearing  that  love 
scenes  might  take  place,  the  Commissioners 
directed  that  the  men  were  not  to  be  taken 
out  at  the  same  time  as  the  females. 

In  order  to  place  the  means  of  bettering 
themselves  in  life,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
meet  tho  demand  for  domestics,  the  Com- 
missioners deputed  Lieutenant  Henry,  It.N., 
emigration  agent,  to  visit  the  workhouse  and 
select  the  more  suitable  female  orphans  for 
emigration  to  Australia-  He  selected  24 
persons,  whoso  ages  ranged  from  14  to  19 
years.  Tho  ship  sailed  from  Plymouth  on 
17th  July,  1848,  and  the  emigrants  were 
conveyed  to  Belfast,  and  from  there  shipped 
for  Dublin— the  cost  per  head  from  Belfast 
to  Dublin  being  5s.  On  arriving  in  Dublin 
they  were  conveyed  by  steamer  to  Plymouth. 
In  January,  1849,  one  of  the  emigrants, 
Rachel  M'Quade,  wrote  to  her  sister,  who 
was  an  inmate,  stating  that  she  was  in 
Adelaide,  and  was  engaged  as  a  servant  at 
£10  for  the  first  year.  She  also  spoko  in 
complimentary  terms  of  the  beauty  of  tho 
country— her  only  regret  being  that  there 
was  no  turf  there- 

The  guardians  next  decided  to  keep  a 
stock  of  pigs,  as  tho  disposal  of  the  offal  to 
persons  in  Magherafelt  did  not  turn  out  as 
profitable  as  was  expected.  The  necessity 
for  piggeries  was  apparent,  and  Daniel 
Magee,  of  Moneymore,  secured  the  contract 
for  building  them  at  £16  lGs  Od. 

Cholera,  at  this  period,  had  made  its 
appearance  in  Ireland,  and  on  tho  recommen- 
dation of  the  Commissioners  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
to  cope  with  it,  shoud  any  cases  occur  in  tho 
union.  Happily  no  outbreak  took  place,  so 
far  as  official  information  is  available. 


82 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Mr.  Scott  Lindsay  succeeded  David 
Waugh  as  master  in  i849,  and  to  assist  him 
in  the  management  of  the  farm  and  instruct 
the  boys,  Robert  Smyth  was  appointed 
agriculturist-  Mrs.  Lindsay  was  also 
appointed  matron,  and  Margaret  Thompson, 
the  fever  hospital  nurse,  was  replaced  by  a 
Mrs.  Jane  Spratt. 

The  new  master  and  matron  had  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  with  the  women  in  the  house, 
and  the  guardians  were  obliged  to  make  an 
order  that  all  refractory  women  have  their 
hair  cut.  As  this  is  women's  crowninp; 
glory,  it  does  not  appear  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  resort  to  this  extreme  measure 
— the  women  evidently  settling  down  to 
their  normal  condition. 

In  January,  1850,  there  were  seventy 
children  in  the  schoolrooms  under  six  years 
of  age.  Owing  to  this  large  number  it  was 
considered  expedient  to  appoint  an  infant 
schoolmistress,  and  Miss  Charles  was 
appointed-  The  proper  heating  of  the 
schoolrooms  and  house  occupied  tin; 
attention  of  the  guardians  for  some  time, 
and  eventually  they  decided  to  have  the  day- 
rooms  and  schoolrooms  heated  with  hot  air, 
and  a  cooking  apparatus  erected,  and 
Richard  Robinson,  of  Belfast,  secured  the 
contract  at  £230.  It  did  not,  however,  turn 
out  satisfactory  and  was  subsequenly 
abandoned. 

As  a  sample  of  the  proficiency  of  some  of 
the  inmates,  the  master,  in  June.  1851,  sub- 
mitted to  the  guardians  a  web  of  Shn.mbrey 
woven  by  them.  The  guardians  considered  it 
highly   satisfactory. 

In  the  same  year  a  donkey  was  ordered  to 
be  purchased  and  a  cart  supplied.  These 
did  service  for  a  couple  of  years,  when  the 
master  was  authorised  to  dispose  of  them, 
which  he  did  for  £3  10s  0,1,  and  to  have  the 
donkey  replaced  by  a  pony.  This  latter  cost 
£8,  but  was  not  considered  suitable,  and  it 
was  sold  for  £9,  and  a  horse  purchased  at 
£11.  The  horse,  however,  did  not  turn  out 
satisfactory,  and  the  master  was  urged  to  get 
rid  of  him,  but  he  pleaded  for  "yet  a  little 
further  indulgence."  This  they  granted,  and 
one  morning  when  the  schoolmaster  was 
working  with  the  horse  it  fell  on  him,  sprain- 
ing his  leg,  and  the  master  was  obliged  to 
part  with  the  animal. 

Small-pox  broke  out  in  18.51—  the  number  of 
patients  in  hospital  on  the  20th  June  being 
26.  It  was  thought  the  disease  was  brought 
from  Scotland.  However,  after  strenuous 
exertions,  the  epidemic  was  successfully 
coped  with. 

John  Deane,  of  Owenreagh,  was  appointed 
schoolmaster  on  the  13th  November,  1851, 
and  resigned  in  September,  1852.  He  evi- 
dently belonged  to  that  class  of  grateful 
officials,  who  recognised     and     acknowledged 


the  support  and  consideration  of  his  masters, 

as  the  following  shows.  The  original  is 
written  in  fine  "copperplate"  hand,  which 
compensates  for  the  weakness  in  the  spelling. 

TO  THE  CHAIRMAN  AND  GENTLEMEN 
OF  THE  BOARD  OF  GUARDIANS, 
MAGHERAFELT  UNION. 
Gentlemen,— Being  fully  resolved  on 
going  out  to  Australia  by  the  first  oppor- 
tunity that  offers,  I,  with  very  submissive 
deference,  humbly  beg  to  '  tender  my 
resignation  of  schoolmaster  of  this  establish- 
ment, and  hope  you  will  have  the  goodness  to 
accept  it,  and  not  being  able  to  make  you  a 
temporal  return  for  the  many  favours  I 
received  under  your  patronage,  I  will  say 
that  the  fervent  prayer  of  my  soul  is,  that 
when  you  are  resigning  this  body  of  sin,  when 
you  are  quitting  this  vale  of  tears,  this  world 
of  woe,  that  you  may  be  received  into  that 
glorious  habitation— the  pleasures  of  which 
will  never  become  irksome,  and  the  loveliness 
of  which  will  never  grow  dim  or  faded,  but 
expand  or  shine  more  brilliantly,  when  this 
world  is  disolved,  and  the  axle  of  time  grow 
rust,  and  cease  to  move  no  more." 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Gentlemen, 
Your  humble,  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  DEANE. 
Magherafelt  Workhouse. 
September  23.  1852. 


Mr.  Deane  was  succeeded  by  Alexander 
Smyth,  of  Ballymaguiggan,  on  28th  October, 
1852. 

Hugh  Donnelly,  of  Magherafelt,  was 
appointed  mason  on  the  15th  January,  1852, 
at  10s  per  week,  and  John  M'Laughlin,  of 
Drumrainey,  was  appointed  carpenter  at  the 
remuneration  of  2s  per  dav.  At  the  meeting 
of  the  guardians  on  18th  March,  1852,  Mr. 
Senior,  Local  Government  Board  Inspector, 
reported  that  this  workhouse  was  the  only 
one  in  the  north  where  the  guardians,  though 
earnestly  pressed  by  the  medical  officer,  the 
Poor-Law  Commissioner  and  himself,  had 
refused  to  give  the  boys  shoes,  the  conse- 
quence being  that  out  of  31  boys  now  in 
school,  12  were  lame  from  sore  feet,  and 
looked  ill  and  miserable,  and  he  requested  the 
medical  officer  to  report  the  number  of  the 
boys  whose  constitutions  appeared  to  bo 
impaired  from  confinement,  tho  result  of 
lameness;  and  ho  trusted  that  the  Board 
would,  during  tho  summer,  provide  a  stock 
of  shoes  previous  to  tho  cold  weather  coming 
on.  Tho  school,  in  point  of  health  and 
appearance,  was  the  most  sickly  in  the  north. 
Dr.  Vesey,  the  medical  officer,  reported  that 
he  had  always  been  of  the  opinion  that  the 
boys  in  the  workhouse  should  bo  provided 
with  shoes  and  stockings  during  the  winter 
months.  He  also  found  cases  of  diarrhoea, 
bronchitis  and  scrofula  during  the  winter 
which,  ho  had  no  doubt,  was  greatly  aggre- 
vatcd   (if  not  caused)  by     want  of    sufficient 


' 


THE  TOOR  LAW 


heat  in  the  lower  extremities.  At  the  meet- 
ing  of  the  Board  on  the  15th  April,  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  that  shoes  and 
stockings  be  provided  for  the  boys  during  the 
winter. 

On  the  29th  April,  1852,  a  memorial  to  the 
Lord  Lieutenant  on  behalf  of  Smith,  Larkin 
and  O'Brien  was  submitted  to  the  Board  for 
signature,  but  no  action  was  taken. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  3rd  June,  1852,  the 
proposal  of  James  Morton,  of  Magherafelt,  to 
supply  fine  bread  at  lid  per  lb.,  and  coarse 
bread  at  l-\d  per  lb.  was  accepted-  The  pre- 
vious contractors  were  the  Hanlon  Public 
Bakery  Company,  Magherafelt.  At  the  same 
meeting  the  salary  of  the  porter  was  increased 
to  £12  10s  Od. 

Owing  to  the  guardians  ceasing  to  grant 
out-door  relief,  tho  number  of  relieving 
officers  was  reduced  to  one — Mr.  Pollock. 
There  was  no  out-door  relief  given  in  1858, 
and  for  the  half-year  ended  September, 
18G4,  the  amount  was  only  £1 — the  recipient 
belonging  to  the  Bellaghy  division-  Mr. 
Pollock's  salary  was  increased  in  February, 
1804,  from  £50  to  £00,  but  he  did  not  enjoy 
it  long,  as  on  the  31st  March,  1864,  Mr. 
Robert  Gilmore  was  appointed  at  a  salary  of 
£50,  and  he  continued  till  the  passing  of  the 
Local  Government  Amendment  Act,  when  he 
resigned,  after  a  faithful  service  of  35  years. 

Mrs.  Martha  Jane  Irwin,  Newtownards, 
was  appointed  infirmary  nurse  on  the  8th 
September,  1853,  but  resigned  after  a  fort- 
night's experience,  and  Miss  Ann  Charles 
(tho  infant  schoolmistress  in  the  workhouse) 
wrote  accepting  the  position  vacated  by  Mrs. 
Irwin,  which  was  approved,  and  it  was 
decided  to  attach  the  infant  school  to  the 
female  school. 

In  April,  1857,  Rose  Ann  Barr.  of  Maghera, 
was  appointed  infirmary  nurse,  and  in  the 
same  month  a  complaint  was  made  against 
Mrs.  Spratt,  the  fever  hospital  nurse,  that 
she  could  not  hear-  properly,  and  therefore 
not  able  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  tho 
patients.  The  matter  was  referred  to  tho 
medical  officer,  who  reported  that  Mrs. 
Spratt  had  always  been  a  little  deaf,  but  it 
did  not  interfere  with  the  proper  discharge 
of  her  duties,  she  being  an  efficent  nurse. 

The  guardians  were  most  jealous  that  the 
duties  of  the  chaplains  should  be  performed 
by  themselves,  or  by  one  of  their  brethren, 
and  not  by  any  layman.  In  August,  1857, 
the  chaplains'  book  contained  an  entry  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Lowry,  principal  of  the  Fair  Hill 
Schools,  that  he  had  officiated  in  the  work- 
house for  the  Rev.  Alexander  Montgomery. 
The  guardians  disapproved  of  Mr.  Lowry 
being  allowed  to  officiate,  as  he  was  not  duly 
qualified  to  perform  divine  service. 


John  Esdale  was  appointed  shoemaker,  and 
James  M'Ateer,  tailor  of  the  workhouse,  in 
June,  1857. 

So  far  as  tho  records  declare,  the 
guardians  have  always  been  most  fortunate 
in  having  excellent  masters  and  matrons,  and 
the  cleanliness  of  the  establishment  has  been 
very  favourably  reported  upon.  In  1857  a 
Captain  Robinson,  one  of  the  Poor-Law 
Commissioners'  Inspectors,  reported  that 
having  paid  the  visit  to  the  House,  he  found 
it  in  splendid  order. 

In  October,  1857,  the  guardians  subscribed 
to  tho  fund  for  the  relief  of  sufferers  in  India, 
and  the  sum  of  £168  was  collected  in  tile 
Union  and  forwarded  by  the  clerk. 

John  Esdale,  the  tailor  of  the  house, 
resigned  in  November,  1858,  and  a  Samuel 
Brown,  Killyboggin,  was  appointed  successor 
at  a  salary  of  Is  3d  per  day. 

The  following  month  Mrs.  Spratt,  the 
fever  hospital  nurse,  died,  and  a  Catherine 
Wilkinson,  of  Belfast,  was  appointed  at  a 
salary  of  £15  a  year  and  rations.  Although 
there  was  no  out-door  relief,  pranted  by  tho 
guardians  in  1859,  Mr.  John  Pollock,  relieving 
officer,  was  directed  to  attend  the  relief 
depots  throughout  the  Union  once;  evory 
fortnight. 

In  January,  1860,  Samuel  Brown,  tho 
tailor,  absented  himself  without  permission, 
and  was  fined  in  the  sum  of  2s  6d.  Tho 
following  year  Miss  Mary  Ann  Hutchinson, 
of  Bally nagowan,  was  appointed  infirmary 
nurse  at  £10  a  year,  but  after  being  in  office 
for  some  time  the  medical  officer  reported 
that  Nurse  Hutchinson  was  quite  ignorant  of 
her  duties  and  unfit  to  perform  them. 

In  Auugst  of  same  year  portion  of  tho 
dining-hall  was  separated  from  the  remainder 
by  a  moveable  partition.  In  this  portion  the 
Roman  Catholic  inmates  worsnipped,  and  in 
December  following  tho  guardians  ordered 
that  the  inmates  be  allowed  tea  and  bread  for 
simper  on  Xmas  night — the  cost  not  to  exceed 
£3. 

In  February,  1862,  the  Poor-Law  Com- 
missioners wrote  to  the  guardians  requesting 
to  be  furnished  with  the  name  of  every  town 
and  village  in  the  union  in  which  a  fuel 
committee  had  been  established  to  assist  the 
poor  in  obtaining  fuel  during  the  winter 
months.  The  guardians  replied  that  they  did 
no  consider  it  necessary  to  appoint  any 
committee. 

The  Rev.  Charles  King-Irwin,  I.C. 
chaplain,  resigned,  and  the  Rev.  James 
Hogan  was  appointed. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Clarke,  Magherafelt, 
auctionod  the  wheat  growing  on  the  work- 
house farm  for  4s  Ud     fees.     In  August     of 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


same  year  tho  Registrar-General,  Dublin, 
intimated  to  the  guardians  that  the  reading 
of  the  notices  of  marriages  at  their  meetings 
was  to  cease,  as  tho  Registration  of  Births, 
Deaths  and  Marriages  Act  had  been  passed, 
and  would  come  into  force  on  the  1st  January, 
1864,  and  that  a  registrar  office  would  require 
to  be  provided.  The  guardians  requested 
the  Poor-Law  Commissioners  to  furnish  them 
with  a  plan  for  a  register  office,  to  be  erected 
i:i  the  female  probationary  ward.  _  line 
Commissioners  complied,  and  tho  tender  or 
Mr.  George  It.  Tipping,  Castledawson,  and 
Richard  Donnelly,  Magherafelt,  to  do  the 
work  for  £88  10s  Oil,  was  accepted.  On  the 
19th  November,  1863,  Mr.  kdpatnek, 
builder,  Colerainc,  was  appointed  to  inspect 
the  fitting  up  of  the  registrar's  office,  and  he 
recommended  that  two  gables  be  creeled  in 
the  porch  of  same— one  in  the  front  and  one 
in  the  end,  and  that  a  front  window  DC  put 
in  the  office  to  correspond  with  those  next 
the  entrance  door  of  the  workhouse  in  order 
to  preserve  the  uniformity  of  the  building  and 
to  improve  the  light,  This  was  approved,  and 
the  contractors  were  allowed  £13  for  the 
cxtrn  work,  hi  August,  1863,  Dr.  Yes,  y,  the 
medical  officer,  was  granted  one  month's  leave 
of  absence,  and  Dr.  Churchill,  from  Dublin, 
was  appointed   to  discharge  his  duties. 

.Evidently  the  duties  to  be  discharged  by 
the  members  of  the  Royal  Irish  Constabulary, 
in  1805,  were  not  as  onerous  or  exacting  as 
at  present,  as  at  that  period  it  was  the 
custom  for  tho  relieving  officer  to  prepare 
notices  for  abatement  of  nuisances,  and  have 
them  forwarded  to  the  constabulary  for 
service. 

In  the  year  18G9  fever  again  broke  out,  20 
cases  being  sent  from  the  house  to  the 
hospital,  which  included  the  schoolmistress 
and  assistant  nurse,  and  in  tho  month  of 
May  the  number  of  ea.ses  had  increased  to  50. 

In  September  following,  Thomas  Hepburn, 
who  then  resided  in  Bollaghy,  was  appointed 
tailor,  and  Mr.  John  Smyth,  of  Sprucebank, 
and  afterwards  of  Magherafelt,  was  appointed 
rate  collector. 

In  December  of  same  year  a  resolution 
from  the  North  Dublin  Union  was  read,  in 
which  it  was  stated  that  absenteeism  being 
the  great  evil  of  the  coutitry,  the  Prime 
Minister  be  called  upon  to  grant  a  royal  resi- 
dence and  a  National  parliament.  The  reso- 
lution was  allowed  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  selection  of  members  of  tho  visiting 
committee  in  1870  was  delegated  to  the  clerk, 
who  was  to  select  the  members  from  tho 
elected  guardians — seven  members  to  be 
noticed  to  attend  the  second  two  quarters, 
and  those  committees  were  to  be  in  charge  of 
an  cx-offieio  guardian.  In  this  year  Win. 
Bell,  Magherafelt,  was  appointed  tailor. 


An  application  was  also  received  from  tho 
newly  constituted  Gas  Company  to  havo  gas 
introduced  into  the  house.  The  guardians 
decided  to  do  so,  and  resolved  to  pay  one- 
half — not  exceeding  £15 — of  the  expense  of 
continuing  a  pipe  to  conduct  the  gas  from 
tho  town  to  the  door  of  the  workhouse,  and 
the  proposal  of  Robert  Green,  of  Maghera- 
felt, to  erect  and  complete  gas  pipes, 
fittings,  etc.,  in  the  house  and  infirmary, 
including  a  lantern  over  entrance  gate,  and  to 
keep  the  same  in  repair  for  twelve  months,  for 
£-5,  was  accepted. 

James  M'Cracken,  of  Belfast,  wrote  offer- 
ing to  supply  and  erect  a  horizontal  steam 
boiler  to  replace  the  old  ones,  and  erect  a 
chimney-stack  (the  stack  in  use  being  found 
unsuitable),  for  the  sum  of  £175-  This  was 
accepted,  anil  subsequently  he  was  allowed 
£7  10s  0d  for  supplying  a  lightening  con- 
ductor. 

On  the  9th  February,  1871,  as  a  result  of 
an  inquiry  held  by  Mr.  It.  Hamilton  (brother 
of  the  late  Archdeacon -Hamilton,  of  Dromore, 
Desertmartin),  the  master  (Mr.  Scott 
Lindsay),  the  matron  (Mrs.  Lindsay)  tho 
schoolmaster  and  schoolmistress  were"  called 
upon  to  resign,  and  on  the  2nd  March,  1871, 
James  Palmer,  Magherafelt,  was  appointed 
master  at  a  salary  of  £-10  a  year;  Miss 
Isabella  Walker,  (Joagh,  matron,  at  £25  a 
year;  John  Silley  (now  Rev.  John  Silley,  of 
London),  schoolmaster,  at  £25,  and  Miss 
Ellen  Brittain,   schoolmistress,   at  £20. 

Tho  following  year  Mr,  Palmer  applied  to 
the  guardians  to  be  allowed  to  keep  his  wife 
in  the  workhouse.  The  application  was 
granted,  subject  to  Mr.  Palmer  undertaking 
to  pay  £15  yearly. 

James  Aiken,  of  liallyronan,  was  appointed 
tailor  in  succession  to  Mr.  Thomas  Hepburn, 
at  the  remuneration  of  Is  Gd  per  day. 

At  this  period  Dr.  Dobbin,  medical  officer 
of  the  Maghcra  dispensary  district,  reported 
that  an  outbreak  of  small-pox  occurred  in 
Maghera— a  man  named  Quigley  having 
brought  it  from  Glasgow,  and  ten  persons 
living  in  the  same  street,  having  contracted 
the  disease,  the  board  appointed  Col.  Cassidi, 
Mr.  Hugh  Walker,  and  Mr.  Archibald  M'Fall 
as  a  committee  to  purchase  a  covered  ear  to 
convey  the  small-pox  patients  to  tho 
hospital. 

In  1873  Miss  Garret,  from  the  Lurgan 
union,  was  appointed  Infirmary  muse, 
and  tho  contract  for  the  supply  of  coal  for 
that  year  was  secured  by  Mr.  James  Sands. 
Magherafelt,  at  31s  Id  per  ton. 

Up  till  March,  1873,  voting  by  ballot  was 
permissablo  at  the' meetings  of  tho  guardians. 
This  practice,  however,  was  made  illegal  by 
an  order  of  the  Local  Government  Board 
dated  14th  March. 


THE  POOR  LAW. 


In  Juno  the  guardians  granted  tho  infir- 
mary nurse— Mary  A.  Hutchinson— a  super- 
annuation allowance  of  £8  annually,  and  in 
July  tho  salary  of  the  porter  was  increased 
from  £12  10s  Od  to  £16. 

In  this  year  the  union  printer  was  Mr. 
John  Leonard,  who  then  resided  in  Maghera- 
felt. 

In  November,  1873,  the  salaries  of  the 
schoolmaster  was  increased  from  £25  to  £30, 
and  that  of  tho  schoolmistress  from  £20  to 
£25  annually- 

At  the  same  meeting  a  month's  notice  was 
issued  to  fence  the  old  burying-giounds  which 
had  been  vested  in  the  guardians.  The  order 
included  the  fencing  of  the  old  burying- 
ground  in  Broagh.  Subsequently,  however, 
this  burying-ground  was  struck  off  tho  list  of 
those  for  whom  the  guardians  were  appointed 
custodians- 

In  January,  1874,  an  inmate  of  tho  boys' 
school  named  Isaac  Donaghy,  absconded  from 
the  workhouse.  He  was  apprehended  and 
brought  before  the  magistrates  sitting  in 
Petty  Sessions,  o:i  the  11th  February,  and 
ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  Training  Ship, 
Gibraltar — then  stationed  in  Belfast  Longh- 
and to  be  detained  there  for  four  years. 

The  amount  of  out-door  relief  distribution 
in  1875  was  5s  weekly,  there  being  two  cases 
and  three  persons  on  the  list- 
Up  to  this  period  tho  hour  at  which  tho 
guardians  met  was  12  o'clock,  but  on  the  2nd 
June,  1875,  it  was  altered  to  1  o'clock,  at 
which  hour  it  remained  till  tho  passing  of  the 
Local  Government  Act. 

Mr.  Palmer,  tho  master,  died  on  tho  26th 
September,  1875,  and  on  the  23th  October, 
1875,  Mr.  Henry  Thompson,  Magherafclt,  was 
appointed. 

So  numerous  had  the  tramps  become,  and 
so  persistent  were  they  in  begging  through 
the  town,  that  tho  guardians  passed  a  reso- 
lution requesting  tho  police  to  put  the  law  in 
motion  against  the  practice  of  begging — such 
persons  making  the  workhouse  a  lodging- 
house.  The  word  of  the  guardians  carried 
weight  in  those  days,  and  prosecutions 
followed. 

In  this  year  caretakers  were  appointed  for 
each  of  the  burying- grounds,  and  rules  framed 
for  the  grounds  being  kept  in  decent  order. 

The  salary  of  the  fever  hospital  nurse  was 
also  increased  from  £18  to  £20  a  year. 

The  powers  conferred  upon  boards  of 
guardians  under  the  Nuisances  Removal  and 
Diseases  Prevention  Acta,  1848  and  1849,  were 
found  quite  inadequate  for  the  proper  pro- 
tection and  care  of  the  health  of  the  people, 
and  the  Public  Hoalth    (Ireland)    Act,  1878, 


which  was  moulded  from  the  English  Act,  was 
passed  on  the  8th  August,  1878,  ami  tho 
Contagious  Diseases  (Animals)  Act  was 
passed  on  tho  16th  August,  1878,  for  tho 
better  provision  respecting  contagious  and 
infectious  diseases  of  cattle  and  other 
animals. 

Mr.  William  Sandford,  VS.,  Moneymore, 
was  the  first  inspector  appointed  under  this 
Act.  His  appointment  took  place  on  Decem- 
ber, 1878. 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Hu^h  Atkinson, 
of  Coolshinney,  was  appointed  schoolmaster  in 
room  of  Mr-  John  Silley,  resigned. 

The  water  in  the  pumps  in  Magherafelt 
caused  the  guardians  a  great  deal  of  anxiety 
owing  to  the  repeated  outbreak  of  disease, 
and  they  decided  to  have  samples  from  threo 
of  tho  pumps  sent  to  Professor  Lcebody, 
Londonderry,  for  analysis.  Mr.  Robert 
Gilmore  (who,  under  the  Public  Health  Act, 
had  boon  appointed  sanitary  sub-officer)  was 
intrusted  with  the  task  of  conveying  tho 
samples  to  Derry,  and  the  expense  of  doing 
so  amounted  to  £1  13s  6d,  in  addition  to  tho 
fee  of  £2  to  Professor  Leebody.  So  particular 
were  the  guardians  as  to  the  receipt  of  tho 
result  of  the  analysis,  that  they  directed  Mr. 
Gilmore  to  proceed  to  Deny  in  order  that  ho 
would  receive  the  certificate  of  analysis  from 
the  hands  of  Professor  Lcebody,  and  guard  it 
zealously  until  he  delivered  it  safe  and  sound 
into  the  custody  of  the  clerk-  Nowadays  wo 
arc  content  to  trust  to  the  post. 

Miss  Garret,  who  had  been  the  nurse  in 
charge  of  the  infirmary,  resigned,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Kyle  was  appointed  in  1875  at  a  salary 
of  £20  a  year.  She  was  a  very  capable  nurso 
and  discharged  her  duties  with  a  thorough- 
ness that  was  highly  commendable  till  1891, 
when  she  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Miss  A.  H.  Rcid,  who  fulfilled  the  duties  to 
tho  entire  satisfaction  of  the  guardians,  tho 
medical  officer,  and  the  patients,  till  1898, 
when  she  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  fever  hospital,  and  at  present  she  is 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  best  nurses  in  the 
north  of  Ireland.  Her  predecessors  in  that 
position  were  A!  iss  Ellen  Nieholl,  who  had 
been  appointed  in  1862,  died  in  1889,  and  was 
succeeded  by  a  Miss  Nellie  M'Cotter,  who 
gave  place  to  a  Miss  E.  Kelly,  on  6th  March, 
1890,  and  who  resigned  in  September,  1890, 
when  a  Miss  Annie  Metcalf  took  charge  till 
the  appointment  of  Miss  Rcid. 

Mr.  Henry  Thompson,  tho  master,  resigned 
in  1881,  and  Mr.  Richard  Gilmore,  of 
Magherafelt,  now  residing  in  tho  Luney,  was 
elected. 

Mr.  Hugh  Atkinson,  schoolmaster,  resigned 
in  1884,  when  Mr.  Jamo3  Taylor,  of  Moy- 
heeland,  was  appointed.  Ho  continued  to 
faithfully     discharge     the       duties     till     tho 


86 


HISTORY  OF  MAGIIERAFELT. 


resignation  of  Mr.  Richard  Gilmore,  master, 
in  1900,  when  lie  was  appointed  master — tlio 
guardians  abolishing  the  office  oi  school- 
master— the  children  of  the  boys'  school 
being  sent  to  the  dilferent  schools  in  town. 

The  clerk,  Mr.  John  Steele,  after  thirty- 
eight  years  of  faithful  duty,  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1885,  and  the  present  clerk,  Mr.  Win- 
Hastings,  succeeded  to  the  office  in  1886. 

James  Barnett.  who  occupied  the  position 
of  porter  from  1868,  resigned  in  1881,  and  a 
George  Patterson  was  elected  to  the  position, 
and  continued  until  1892,  when  Mr.  Samuel 
Mawhinney  was  appointed.  He  was 
succeeded  in  1899  by  Mr.  Francis  M'Kenna, 
who  retired  on  pension  in  September,  1910- 
Mr.  Michael  M'Kenna  was  appointed  in  1910, 
and  resigned  in  February,  1913,  when  the 
present  porter,  Patrick  Kerr,  took  up  duty  in 
April  of  that  year. 

The  matron,  Miss  Walker,  resigned  in  18S8, 
having  occupied  the  position  since  1871,  and 
Miss  M.  J.  H.  Allen  was  elected. 

Miss  Ellen  Brittain,  the  schoolmistress, 
resigned  on  pension  in  1896,  after  twenty- 
live  years  service,  and  Miss  Anna 
M.  Glennane,  of  Magherafelt  (now  Mrs. 
O'Kane)  was  appointed.  Miss  Clennano 
resigned  in  1901,  and  was  succeeded  by  Miss 
Cassie  M'Oscar,  who  died  on  the  17th 
March,  1914,  after  thirteen  years  unre- 
mitting attention.  The  children  of  the 
Girls'  School  are  now  sent  to  outside  schools, 
and  Miss  Gertrude  Hogan,  who  has  been 
J. A.M.  in  Tirkane  School,  Ma-ghera,  has  been 
appointed  Assistant  Matron  and  School 
Attendant.  Miss  Marion  Conway  suc- 
ceeded Miss  Reid  as  charge  nurse  of  the 
iniirmary,  at  a  salary  of  £40  a  year,  and 
continued  till  December,  1905,  when  Miss 
Hawe  was  elected,  and  tilled  the  position  till 
August,  1915,  when  she  resigned,  and  Miss  S. 
A.  Shields  was  appointed. 

Dr.  John  S.  Vesey,  the  first  medical  officer 
of  the  workhouse,  after  42  years  of  unre- 
mitting services,  died,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  Dr.  Agmon  B.  Vesey,  in  November, 
1874-  He  continued  to  faithfully  discharge 
the  duties  till  his  death,  which  took  place  on 
the  12th  March,  1901,  when  Dr.  Andrew 
Hegarty,  J. P.,  who  was  medical  officer  of  the 
Draperstown  Dispensary  District,  was  elected. 

The  late  medical  officer  of  the  workhouse 
(Dr.  A.  B.  Vesey,  J  P.)  considered  the 
infirmary  so  important  a  training  centre — it 
being  so  far  removed  from  the  County 
Infirmary,  that  after  repeated  requests  the 
guardians,  in  1896,  decided  to  appoint  two 
probationer  nurses,  and  Miss  Maggie  G. 
Bell,  daughter  of  the  then  stationma.ster  of 
Desortmartin,  and  Miss  Charlotte  Henderson 
were  appointed  at  yearly  salaries  of  £7 
each.     They,  however,  did     not  remain  long 


in  the  service  of  the  guardians,  as  Miss 
Minnie  Kyle  and  Miss  Lizzie  Mawhinney  were 
appointed  on  the  16th  September,  1897. 
Miss  Kyle  died,  and  a  Miss  Catherine 
Maguire  was  appointed  temporary  on  14th 
May,  1899,  at  £1  5s  Od  per  week.  Miss 
Mawhinney  resigned  on  7th  October,  1899. 
Only  one  probationer  was  then  appointed — a 
Miss  Wright  being  successful  on  the  8th 
February,  1900-  She  remained  in  office  till 
June,  19U1,  when  she  left  to  enter  the  bonds 
of  matrimony.  The  Nursing  Order  of  the 
Local  Government  Board  then  came  into 
force  and  the  office  of  probationer  ceased. 

Up  to  1898  the  lunatics  were  under  the 
direct  care  of  the  master  and  matron,  but  as 
the  wards  in  which  they  remained  were 
situated  in  the  infirmary  block,  the 
guardians  naturally  thought  that  the  charge 
nurse  should  be  responsible  with  the  medical 
officer  for  their  well-being-  At  first  the 
nurse  refused,  but  subsequently  consented. 
However,  the  Local  Government  Board  took 
the  matter  up,  and  in  June,  1898,  James  D. 
Johnston  was  appointed  male  ward  attendant, 
and  Miss  Bridget  Quinn,  female  ward 
attendant,  on  7th  July,  1898,  at  a  yearly 
salary  of  £10  each- 

The  necessity  for  a  night  nurse  for  the 
infirmary  became  apparent,  and  Miss  Quinn, 
the  female  ward  attendant,  was  appointed  on 
28th  December,  1899,  at  a  salary  of  £20, 
and  resigned  on  pension  in  1915.  Her 
place,  as  female  ward  attendant,  being  taken 
by  a  Mary  E.  Lennox-  James  D.  Johnston, 
the  male  attendant,  resigned.  James 
Mayberry  was  appointed  on  the  30th 
November,  1899.  He  continued  till  1905, 
when  he  died.  His  place  was  filled  by  a 
David  M'Conamy,  who  is  now  serving  his 
King  and  country  in  France  as  a  soldier.  He, 
however,  remained  a  year  in  office,  when 
James  Shooters  was  elected- 

Both  Shooters  and  Miss  Lennox  resigned 
in  1908,  when  Wm.  Brown  and  Miss  Maggio 
Quinn  were  elected  to  fill  the  vacancies  in 
1909.  Brown  only  remained  nine  months  in 
office,  and  Miss  Quinn  seven  months,  and 
Mary  Guiler  and  James  Henry  were 
appointed.  These  two  persons,  however, 
resigned  in  October,  1910,  but  on  re-con- 
sideration, Mary  Guiler  was  reelected  on 
24th  November,  1910,  to  again  resign  in 
1913.  John  M'Williams  was  installed  as 
male  attendant,  but  died  on  17th  July,  1912. 
A  Michael  Mallon  was  then  appointed,  but 
only  remained  a  comparatively  short  time, 
and  a  George  Nicholl  and  Martha  M 'Donald 
— the  present  occupants — were  elected  in 
1913- 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  matters  directly 
connected  with  the  administration  of  the 
Poor-Laws,  there  were  from  time  to  time 
additional  duties  imposed  upon  the  guardians. 


THE  POOR.  LAW. 


87 


The  first  principal  one  was  the  carrying  into 
effect  of  the  Medical  Charities  Act,  which  was 
passed  in  1851.  Prior  tu  this,  medical  relief 
was  dispensed  at  certain  dispensaries,  which 
had  been  established  in  the  reign  of  George 
the  third,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  relief 
to  poor  persons  who,  owing  to  distance,  could 
not  avail  themselves  of  tho  several  County 
infirmaries-  These  dispensaries  were  vested 
in  what  was  called  infirmary  corporations, 
and  the  annual  subscriptions  was  to  be  not 
less  than  £1  Is  Od.  In  addition  to  this 
voluntary  contribution  the  Grand  Juries  were 
empowered  to  make  presentments  for  tho 
upkeep  and  carrying  on  of  the  dispensaries  in 
their  counties — but  the  amount  of  the  present- 
ment was  not  to  exceed  that  of  the  annual 
subscriptions.  The  Magherafelt  dispensary, 
which  was  established  in  pursuance  of  this 
Act,  extended  through  the  parishes  of 
Magherafelt  and  adjoining  districts.  There 
wero  three  places  of  dispensation — viz.,  one  in 
Magherafelt,  situated  in  the  old  courthouse, 
and  open  on  Mondays;  one  in  Castledawson, 
open  on  Wednesdays,  and  one  in  Ballyronan, 
open  on  Fridays. 

The  average  time  of  attendance  was  seven 
hours  at  Magherafelt,  two  at  Castledawson, 
and  four  at  Ballyronan-  The  average  number 
of  patients  who  attended  during  a  year  was 
2580;  the  number  of  dispensations,  83S0,  and 
tho  number  of  poor  persons  visited  at  their 
own  houses  was  384.  In  the  case  of  tho 
Magherafelt  dispensary  the  private  sub- 
scriptions amounted  to  £50  yearly,  and  the 
Grand  Jury's  contribution  totalled  a  similar 
amount.  The  surgeon's  salary  was  £60 
yearly,  with  an  additional  gratituty  of  £10  if 
tho  funds  permitted.  This  system  of  affording 
medical  relief  evidently  became  unsatis- 
factory— probably  owing  to  the  dearth  of 
subscriptions,  and  the  consequent  curtailment 
of  the  necessary  medicines  required. 

The  Government,  upon  representation 
being  made  to  them,  passed  an  Act  in  the 
year  1851,  providing  for  the  support  of  the 
dispensaries  from  the  poor-rate.  This  necessi- 
tated the  formation  of  managing  committees 
for  each  dispensary  district,  which  were  to 
comprise  the  Guardians  for  the  time  being 
elected  for  each  of  tho  divisions  of  tho 
union,  formed  into  dispensary  districts.  Tho 
divisions  which  formed  the  Magherafelt 
dispensary  district  were — Ballymoghan,  Bally- 
ronan, Dcsertmartin,  Magherafelt,  and 
Salterstown,  and  the  guardians  elected  for 
those  divisions  in  the  year  1851.  formed 
portion  of  the  first  dispensary     committee- 

In  addition,  the  board  of  guardians  were 
directed  to  elect  a  sufficient  number  of  rate- 
payers resident  in  each  district,  and  who 
were  liable  to  pay  poor-rate  in  respect  of 
property  therein  of  the  net  annual  value  of 
£30  at  least;  so  that  with  the  ex-olficio  and 
elected  guardians,  a  complete  eommitee  would 


be  formed-  The  motive  which  induced  the 
commissioners  to  iix  that  each  committee 
should  consist  of  a  certain  number  of  ex- 
officio  members,  seemed  to  be — that  having 
in  each  ease  ascertained  the  number  of 
persons  entitled  to  sit  on  the  committee  as 
such,  and  the  number  of  those  resident  in  the 
district,  they  raised  the  number  of  tho  com- 
mittee somewhat  above  that,  with  the  view, 
and  in  the  hope  that  the  guardians,  in  their 
selection  of  persons  to  make  up  the  full 
number  of  the  committee,  would  choose 
those  who  they  had  reason  to  know  would 
take  an  active  interest  in  tlie  well  working  of 
the  dispensaries,  for  tho  benefit  of  the  sick 
poor,  and  for  the  protection  of  tho  ratepayers 
against  the  expense  of  providing  gratuitous 
medical  relief  for  persons  not  justly,  in 
accordance  with  the  intentions  of  tho  legis- 
lature entitled  to  receive  it. 

On  the  20th  November,  1851,  the  guardians 
appointed  Dr.  Vesey  as  medical  officer  of 
Magherafelt  dispensary  district;  Dr.  John 
jMorewood,  for  Draperstown  dispensary 
district;  Dr.  R.  M'D.  Barr,  for  Maghera ;  Dr. 
R.  H.  Gordon,  for  Bellaghy,  and  Dr.  Z- 
Maxwell,  for  Moneymore,  at  salaries  of  £80 
each-  These  were  the  medical  officers  in 
charge  of  the  dispensaries  prior  to  the  passing 
of  the  Act-  The  guardians  in  this  course 
evidently  exceeded  their  duty,  as  the  com- 
missioners intimated  that  the  appointments 
rested  with  the  respective  committees.  The 
committees,  when  thej'  met,  in  February, 
1852,  carried  out  the  intention  of  tho 
guardians  by  oppointing  tho  doctors  already 
named. 

The  Magherafelt  dispensary  committee  mot 
on  the  17th  February,  1852,  there  being 
present— Hon.  and  Rev.  A-  W.  Pomeroy,  Rev. 
C.  K.  Irwin,  Rev-  J.  J.  Jackson,  Andrew 
Spotswood,  J. P.;  Wm.  Graves,  J. P.;  Andrew 
M'Causland,  P.L.G-;  James  Duncan,  P-L.G-; 
and  W.  Magowan,  P.L-G.  The  committee 
met  in  the  olj  courthouse,  and  Mr.  Andrew 
Spotswood,  J. P.,  was  appointed  chairman; 
the  Hon  A-  W.  Pomeroy,  vice-chairman; 
Rev.  C.  K.  Irwin,  hon.  secretary,  and  Mr- 
James  Duncan,  assistant  hon-  secretary. 

The  committee  agreed  to  meet  on  the  first 
and  third  Thursdays  in  each  month  in  the 
Petty  Jury  Room  in  the  courthouse.  Tho 
committee  fixed  Monday  as  the  day  of  attend- 
ance of  the  medical  officer,  at  the  courthouse, 
from  ten  till  one  o'clock,  and  ordered  that 
the  medical  officer  should  not  be  required  to 
attend  to  any  ticket  arriving  after  one 
o'clock,  but  that  all  who  were  actually  in 
attendance  at  that  hour  should  be  attended 
and  prescribed  for.  They  also  fixed  the  out- 
station  at  Ballyronan  till  1st  May,  and  after 
that  date  the  station  was  to  be  at  Killymuck, 
tho  Rev.  J.  J-  Jackson  having  undertaken  to 
procure  suitable  accommodation  free. 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Dr.  Knox,  Poor-Law  Medical  Inspector, 
inspected  the  dispensary  on  the  16th  August, 
1852,  and  expressed  himself  satisfied  with  the 
arrangements  made,  but  suggested  that  the 
dispensary  should  be  open  two  days  weekly 
instead  of  one-  This  was  agreed  to,  and 
Friday  was  fixed  as  the  second  day— hours 
9  to  11.  In  consideration  of  the  opening  of 
the  dispensary  on  Fridays,  the  salary  of  tho 
Bridewell  keeper  was  increased  from  £3  15s 
to  £4  yearly— for  attendance,  etc. 

The  committee  agreed  to  prevent  the  spread 
of  infectious  disease  if  possible,  and  for  that 
purpose  directed  that  in  every  case  of  fever 
the  medical  officer  inform  the  family  of  tho 
patient  that  unless  the  patient  be  removed  to 
hospital  all  medical  aid  would  bo  discon-  * 
tinued.  This  was  not,  however,  in 
accordance  with  the  commissioners'  view,  as 
they  wrote  in  August,  185G,  that  it  was  an 
error  for  medical  attendants  to  suppose,  as 
somo  did,  that  they  were  exonerated  from 
attendance  on  a  patient  who  declined  to  go 
into  the  hospital. 

Although  the  dispensary  depot  which  had 
been  situated  in  Ballyronan,  was  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  Killvmuck,  on  1st  May,  1852,  there 
is  no  record  that  it  was  so  removed— the  in- 
formation contained  in  the  minute  book 
tending  to  show  that  it  was  retained  in 
Ballyronan.  An  account  was  passed  on 
4th  May,  1854,  for  £1  10s  Od,  fur  pay- 
ment to  Ellen  Marks,  Ballyronan,  being 
rent  of  room  for  dispensaiy  in  that  place. 
and  in  1856  Sarah  Marks  was  paid  £2  for  a 
similar  purpose- 
Sergeant  Armstrong,  caretaker  of  tho 
Magherafelt  dispensary,  died  in  1854,  and 
John  Adams  was  appointed  his  successor  at 
£4  yearly,  which  included  attendance  and 
fuel. 

In  the  year  1858  the  Salters'  Company 
erected  the  present  dispensary  in  Maghera- 
felt, and  handed  it  over  to  the  committee  at 
the  nominal  rent  of  Is  per  year,  on  the  con- 
dition that  the  caretaker  was  to  be  appointed 
by  the  agent  of  the  Salters'  Company.  The 
committee  gratefully  acknowledged  tho 
liberality  of  the  Company.  Thomas  Hudson 
was  the  first  "Housekeeper"  of  the  new 
dispensary,  and  his  salary  was  £4  annually, 
and  was  subsequently  increased  to  £6. 

In  this  year  tho  dispensary  district  was 
formed  in  vaccination  stations.  Thoso 
chddren  residing  in  the  divisions  of  Maghera- 
felt and  Ballymoghan  were  to  attend 
Magherafelt  dispensaiy;  those  resident  in 
Ballyronan  and  Saltorstown,  to  _  attend 
Ballyronan  dispensary,  and  those  residing  in 
Desertmartin  division  to  attend  the  house  of 
Olivia  Henry,  in  Desertmartin,  for  which  sho 
was  to  be  paid  £1  10s  Od  yearly.  Dosert- 
martin  did  not    remain    long  a    vaccination 


station,  for  in  May,  1860,  the  committee 
directed  Dr.  Vosey  to  cease  attending  there, 
it  being  so  convenient  to  Magherafelt. 

The  present  dispensary  depot  in  Ballyronan 
was  built  by  the  Salters'  Company  in  1864— 
the  salary  of  the  caretaker  was  fixed  at  £4 
annually,  in  addition  to  the  committee 
supplying  coal,  and  on  5th  January,  1865, 
James  Rodgers  was  appointed  the  first  care- 
taker. The  salary  remained  at  £4  till  1879, 
when  it  was  increased  to  £6,  which  is  the 
amount  paid  at  present.  James  Rodgers 
continued  as  caretaker  till  1881,  when  ho 
died,  and  Matilda  Rodgers  was  appointed. 
She  remained  caretaker  till  1895,  when  sho 
was  succeeded  b3'  John  Hudson,  and  the 
present  caretaker,  Kate  M'YVilliams,  was 
appointed  in  March,  1910-  The  salary  of 
The, mas  Hudson  was  increased  to  £8,  and  in 
1S80  it  was  further  increased  to  £10. 
He  died  in  1895,  and  his  widow, 
Margaret  Hudson,  was  appointed  caretaker. 
She  died  in  March,  1898,  ancl  Mary  Hudson 
was  appointed.  She  continued  till  1912, 
when  she  was  succeeded  by  the  present  care- 
taker, Mary  Kearney. 

The  duties  of  the  dispensary  committees 
were  not  confined  to  seeing  that  poor  people 
were  medically  relieved,  but  were  allotted  by 
the  boards  of  guardians  the  transaction  of 
sanitary  business,  in  which  sphere  they  were 
of  great  assistance,  and  were  the  means  of 
having  much  useful  sanitary  work 
accomplished-  In  1876  the  committee  applied 
to  the  Salters'  Company  to  have  the  pumps 
and  wells  in  the  town  (which  had  been  pro- 
vided by  the  Company)  given  into  their 
custody  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  whole- 
some and  regular  supply  of  water  for  tho 
townspeople,  and  the  Company  acceded  to 
their  request.  Complaints  as  to  the  purity  of 
tho  water  supply  reached  the  committee  from 
time  to  time,  with  the  result  that  it  was 
decided  to  have  a  sample  of  water  from  each 
of  the  pumps  sent  for  analysis.  The  water 
was  sent  to  Professor  Leebody,  Londonderry, 
who  reported  adversely,  and  the  committee 
directed  that  a  notice  be  put  up  over  each 
pump  that  the  wator  was  unfit  for  drinking 
purposes.  The  notices  are  still  ahove  tho 
pumps,  and  notwithstanding  the  warning 
contained  thereon,  the  inhabitants  still  drink 
tho  water,  and  no  town  of  its  size  in  the 
north  of  Ireland  has  been  so  free  from 
dangerous  infectious  disease-  In  August, 
1881,  the  committee  ordered  that  M'Teague's 
well,  situated  on  the  Tobermore  road,  be  built 
over,  and  a  suitable  barrier  erected,  which 
was  carried  out. 

It  was  found  that  the  apartments  provided 
for  the  caretakers  were  insufficient,  and  in 
January,  1878,  it  was  decided  to  instruct  Mr. 
Robert  Young  to  prepare  a  plan  and  specifi- 
cation for  the    addition  to    tho    premises    in 


TIIK  LATK  DR.  A.  li.  YKsKY,  .1.1".  TIIK  LATK  Dlt.   K.  A  I'TKKSON.  J.P 


DR.  A.  HEGA11TY,  J.P. 


DR.  RI.  HUNTER. 


1 1 10  I. All']  .MK.  SA.Ml'EI,  l'OIM'KU,  .1.1' 


~>~--*^— ~  -      ••      | 


■'x 


MR.  ANDREW  BROWN,  J.P 
County  Councillor. 


•  --■  :.A.  .     M 

MR.  T.  A.  M'LERNON,  Solicitor 

(late  representative  for  Manlier  a  felt  on 

the  Co.  Council.) 


THE  POOR  LAW. 


3D 


Church  Street,  and  the  Salters1  Company 
be  asked  to  undertake  the  work-  The 
Company  did  not  carry  out  the  work,  and 
advertisements  were  directed  to  bo  issued 
inviting  tenders,  which  was  done,  and  the 
work  completed. 

Dr.  John  S.  Vesey,  the  medical  officer,  died 
in  1874,  and  his  son,  Dr.  A.  B-  Vesey,  was 
appointed.  He  continued  to  faithfully  dis- 
charge the  duties  till  March,  1901,  when  he 
died,  and  Dr.  A.  Ilegartv,  JP.,  was  elected 
in  April,  1901. 

In  1893  the  committee  agreed  to  allow  a 
letter-box  to  be  erected  in  the  dispensary 
premises.  They  continued  to  give  their 
services  gratuitously  and  quite  willingly  to 
the  public,  till  the  passing  of  the  Local 
Government  Act,  1898,  when  they  were 
superseded,  and  their  duties  transferred  to 
the  board  of  guardians. 

In  the  year  1879  the  potato  crop  became  a 
failure  owing  to  excessive  rains,  and  it  was 
apparent  that  distress  would  become  general, 
although  not  on  such  an  extensive  scale  as  in 
1817.  In  addition  to  the  potato  crop,  great 
difficulty  was  experienced  in  saving  the  turf 
crop,  and  the.  outlook  for  employment 
amongst  the  labouring  class  was  anything  but 
bright.  In  these  circumstances  it  was  not 
surprising  that  the  Government  passed  a 
Relief  of  Distress  Act  in  1880,  which  enabled 
boards  of  guardians  in  Ireland  to  administer 
relief  in  food  and  fuel  out  of  the  workhouse, 
and  in  addition  a  Seed  Supply  Act  was  also 
passed,  which  provided  for  the  supply,  in 
certain  cases,  of  seed  potatoes  and  seed  oats 
for  poor  occupiers  of  land  in  distressed 
districts  who  were  unable  to  procure  adequate 
quantities  of  such  commodities.  The 
guardians  of  each  union  were  required  to 
make  out  an  estimate  of  the  amount  on  loan 
which  they  considered  would  bo  required- 
The  loans  were  to  bo  granted  without  interest 
by  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Works,  and 
to  bo  repaid  by  two  equal  instalments — the 
first  on  the  1st  August,  1881,  and  the  second 
on  the  1st  August,  1882.  Tho  guardians 
were  also  empowered  to  sell  to  occupiers  of 
land,  valued  not  higher  than  £15,  a  quantity 
of  seed  potatoes  sufficient  to  sow  an  acre,  and 
a  similar  quantity  of  seed  oats — tho  total  cost 
not  to  exceed  £5.  The  seed  was  not  to  be  sold 
at  less  than  the  net  price  paid  by  tho 
guardians  for  it,  including  all  expenses  for 
carriage,  storage,  etc.  No  seed  was  to  be  sold 
to  any  person  unless  the  guardians  or  such 
persons  as  the  Local  Government  Board  would 
nominate,  were  satisfied  that  the  land  into 
which  it  was  to  be  put  had  been  properly  pre- 
pared and  was  ready  for  sowing.  There  was 
a  further  proviso  that  in  cases  where  occu- 
piers of  premises  were  not  separately  rated, 
the  guardians  wcro  to  receive  evidence  as  to 
tho  annual  value  of  such  promises  and  make 


a  grant  accordingly— tho  amount  to  be  repaid 
to  the  guardians  in  two  equal  instalments. 
Tho  guardians  of  Magherafelt  union  esti- 
mated that  it  would  take  about  £6,000  worth 
of  potatoes  and  oats  for  distribution,  and 
that  amount  was  provisionally  granted- 
Committees  were  appointed  for  the  several 
districts  of  the  union,  and  persons  selected  to 
purchase  potatoes  and  oats.  Each  occupier 
receiving  the  grant  was  required  to  sign  a 
promissory  note  guaranteeing  to  repay  tho 
amount. 


The  following    were  the 

sums   cxne 

ide 

each  division: — 

•   Ballymoghan 

£44 

19 

S 

Ballyronan 

131 

7 

2 

Bancram 

522 

18 

8 

Bellaghy 

495 

12 

8 

Brackaslievegallion 

171 

0 

2 

Carnamoney 

516 

6 

6 

Castledawson 

580 

5 

0 

Clady 

238 

8 

Desertmartin 

2'2ii 

9 

8 

Draperstown 

568  19 

6 

Gulladulf 

157 

7 

•I 

Inniscarn 

351 

7 

0 

Lissan  Upper 

21:1  J 

1C 

8 

Maghera 

157 

0 

(i 

Magherafelt 

113 

8 

8 

Moneyhaw 

nil 

Moneymoro 

58 

6 

0 

Rock  town 

38  1 

10 

■j 

Salterstown 

18-1 

19 

8 

Springhill 

80 

3 

2 

Swateragh 

379 

9 

2 

The  Loop 

115 

3 

2 

The  Six  Towns 

203 

2 

8 

Tobcrmore 

86 

11 

10 

Tullykeeran 

396 

11 

6 

£0.307  13  8 
After  payment  of  tho  first  instalment  the 
guardians  petitioned  the  Local  Government 
Board,  and  they  divided  the  second  instal- 
ment into  two  equal  parts,  and  the  occupiers 
refunded  to  tho  Board  the  amounts  they 
received  along  with  their  poor  rate.  In  a 
number  of  cases  the  rate  collectors  had  great 
difficulty  in  recovering  the  several  sums,  and 
eventually  the  guardians  were  obliged  to 
write  off  a  substantial  sum  as  irrecoverable. 

The  next  legislative  work  the  guardians 
were  called  upon  to  administer  was  tho 
Labourers'  Act  of  1883.  For  a  number  of 
years  they  opposed  the  complying  with  its 
terms,  although  the  necessary  representations 
were  forwarded  to  them  by  certain  labourers. 
However,  the  people  of  the  Draperstown 
district  would  not  be  denied,  and  after  a 
sworn  inquiry  the  guardians  were  obliged  to 
formulate  a  scheme  for  the  erection  of  five 
cottages — they  being  situated  in  Straw  (2)  ; 
Strawmore  (i),  and  Moyheeland  (2-)  Thcso 
were  the  first  cottages    built,  and    have  been 


90 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


occupied  since  1898.  From  that  time  onward 
cottages  have  been  erected  till  now  (1915) 
there  are  225  in  existence,  at  rents  varying 
from  3s  lid  monthly  for  half-acre  allotments, 
to  6s  Gd  for  acre  allotments.  According  to 
the  latest  returns  of  the  Local  Government 
Board,  the  amount  of  loans  sanctioned  from 
all  sources  under  the  Labourers'  Acts  was 
£45,236.  of  which  £43,771  had  been  received 
up  to  March,  1915.  Of  the  amount  received— 
£2,036 — which  was  granted  in  connection 
with  the  first  twelve  cottages,  was  discharged 
by  the  Government  in  1902.  At  present  a 
sum  of  £55  19s  2d  is  paid  annually  by  tho 
Local  Government  Board  out  of  the 
Exchequer  contribution  towards  the  reduction 
of  the  principal  due  the  Board  of  Works.  In 
addition,  the  Irish  Land  Commission  allow  an 
abatement  of  36  per  cent,  on  the  amounts  paid 
them  yearly. 

The  next  important  statute  east  upon  them, 
"as  overseers,"  was  the  Representation  of 
the  People  Act,  1884.  True,  there  was  the 
Act  of  1868.  which  dealt  principally  with 
freeholders  and  rated  occupiers  of  £12  and 
upwards,  the  revision  of  which  only  occupied 
portion  of  a  day.  Mr.  Gladstone's  Act, 
however,  created  a  great  revolution,  altering, 
as  it  did,  the  existing  law,  and  giving  men 
who  had  "a  smoke"  (House)  the  right  to 
have  a  voice  in  the  selection  of  a  Parliament- 
ary representative.  It  can,  of  course,  bo 
imagined  that  the  work  at  first  was  of  a 
prodigious  character,  the  revision  of  the  lists 
occupying  weeks.  However,  so  far  as  South 
Deny  was  concerned,  it  was  carried  out  by 
the  union  officials  in  a  manner  which  drew 
from  the  Revising  Barrister  and  others  tho 
highest  praise,  and  this  satisfactory  state  of 
affairs  has  continued  up  to  the  present. 

Then  followed  the  Local  Government  Act. 
1898,  which  provided  for  the  establishing 
of  County  and  Rural  District  Councils 
throughout  each  County.  To  the  County 
Councils  were  transferred  nearly  all  the 
business  of  the  Grand  Juries,  and  all  the  busi- 
ness of  the  County  at  large  presentment 
sessions  ;  the  business  of  the  guardians  with 
respect  to  making,  levying  and  collecting  poor 
rate;  the  business  of  tho  guardians  as  local 
authority  under  tho  Diseases  of  Animals  Act, 
1894,  and  the  business  of  the  justices  in 
Petty  Sessions  under  the  Explosive  Act,  1875, 
except  tho  power  to  appoint  an  officer.  To 
the  Rural  District  Councils  was  transferred 
the  business  of  each  baronial  presentment 
sessions,  and  tho  duties  under  the  Public 
Health  and  Labourers'  Acts,  which  had  been 
discharged  by  tho  guardians.  The  district 
council  is,  so  far,  generally,  as  rural  districts 
are  concerned,  the  more  important  body. 
because  it  is  the  fact  of  a  person  being  a 
district  councillor  that  he  is  a  guardian.  Tho 
Act  abolished  the  ex-offioio  guardians,  but  in 
order  to  have  the  benefit  of  their    experience 


during  the  initial  three  years,  the  first 
council  was  empowered  to  co-opt  three 
persons  who  had,  at  any  time  during  the  pre- 
ceding three  years,  being  cx-officio  guardians 
of  the  union-  It  also  provided  for  each 
electoral  division  being  represented  by  two 
persons,  tho  elections  to  take  place 
triennially. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  new  council  took 
place  on  the  15th  April,  1899,  when  Mr. 
Charles  Convcry    was  elected    chairman,  and 

at  the  following  meeting,  .Mr.  John  Kecnan, 
J. P.,  was  elected  vice-chairman.  The  offico 
of  chairman  of  the  district  council  confers 
that  of  justice  of  the  peace  on  the  occupant. 
'Mr.  Convery  continued  as  the  chairman  of  the 
council  till  1900,  when,  owing  to  the  Unionists 
having  secured  the  balance  of  power,  lie  was 
replaced  by  Mr.  Andrew  Brown,  Jl'.,  Bally- 
eglish  House,  who,  at  present,  ably  represents 
the  Magherafclt  County  division  on  tho 
County  Council. 

At  the  first  meeting  'of  the  board  of 
guardians,  Mr.  Charles  Heron,  J-P.,  was 
elected  chairman;  Mr.  Louis  Smyth,  vico- 
chairman,  aud  Mr.  Smylie  Robson,  deputy- 
vice-chairman. 

The  present  chairman  of  the  board  of 
guardians  is  Mr.  J-  E.  O'Neill,  J. P.,  and  ho 
has  occupied  that  position  continually  since 
1908.  He  is  also  the  vice-chairman  of  the 
County  Council,  and  has  filled  that  position 
for  years,  which  speaks  volumes  for  his 
business  capacity  and  the  regard  in  which  ho 
is  held. 

The    following     were    the    first    councillors 
elected  :— 
Ballymoghan — Samuel        Black,         Benjamin 

Miller. 
Ballyronan — Alex.        Burnett,        Wm.        J. 

Hamilton. 
Bancran— Charles       Heron,       J. P.  ;       Hugh 

Hagan. 
Bellaghy— Joseph    Davison,     Thomas    Daley, 

J  P. 
Braekaslievegallion—  John     Connery,   Andrew 

Latimer. 
Carnamoney— Daniel    Lagan,    Alex     M'lver, 

jun. 
Oastlodawson  —  Henry      M'Kendry,      J.P- ; 

Nicholas  Mulholland. 
Clady— T.  P.  Henry,  Teady  M'Erlan©. 
Desertmartin — John  Park,  W.  J.  Hanna- 
Draperstown  —  Patrick      Bradley,       Michael 

Morgan. 
Gulladuff — Charles  Convery,  John  Boylo. 
Inniscarn — James  Breen,  Patrick  Gormlcy. 
Lissan      Upper  —  William     Barefoot,    Peter 

Rogers. 
Maghera  —  Samuel        Anderson,        Thomas 

Graham,  J.P. 
Magherafelt — Walter  Bell.  James  Bowman. 
Moneyhaw— Robert  Bell,  Wm-  John  Brown. 


THE  TOOR  LAW. 


91 


Moneymore — Samuel  Bradley,  Thos.  Carletou. 
Rocktown — James    Shivers,     J. P.  ;      Bernard 

Mulholland. 
Salterstown — James  Costello,  John  Larkin. 
Springhlli — Col.  Sir    W.  F.     L.     Conyngham, 
K.C.B:  William.  Ekin,  J. P. 
Swateragh — John  Friel,  John  M'Keefry,  jun. 
The  Loop — Andrew  Brown,  Jas.  Hutchinson. 
The  Six  Towns -Bernard     Clerkin,   John     H. 

Conway. 
Tobei more— Smylie  Robson,  Wm-  Anderson. 
Tullykeeran— James       E.       O'Neill,        J. P.  ; 

Andrew  Diamond. 
Tho  co-opted  members  were  : — 
Old    ex-officio      Guardiansi — John      Kcenan, 

J.P.  ;      Henry      Devlin,       J.P.  ;       Felix- 

Ferran,     J.P. ;       Louis     Smyth,     James 

O'Kane,  George  Mullan. 

Visitors  to  the  workhouse  are  at  once  struck 
with  the  excellent  provision  made  for  the 
comfort  of  the  inmates  in  each  department 
of  tho  establishment.  Tho  guardians  have 
always  shown  themselves  most  anxious  to  do 
all  in  their  power  to  make  the  lot  of  those 
committed  to  their  tare  as  happy  as  possible, 
and  towards  that  object  have  from  time  to 
time  authorised  improvements.  For  instance, 
in  order  to  alleviate  the  suffering  of  those 
afflicted  with  what  is  known  as  the  "White 
Scourge,"  and  to  ensure  that  the  patients 
should  have  every  opportunity  of  recovering, 
they  provided  a  male  consumptive  ward,  well 
lighted  and  fitted  with  every  convenience. 
They  also  had  converted  one  of  the  old 
women's  wards  in  the  infirmary  into  a 
Female  Consumptive  Ward.  In  1901  they 
had  the  antequated  cooking  apparatus 
replaced  by  modern  appliances,  and  in  1909 
tho  old  boilers  gave  place  to  two  of  the  very 
latest  pattern.  Other  necessary  improve- 
ments have  also  been  introduced. 

In  these  matters  the  guardians  have  been 
very  fortunate  in  receiving — principally 
through  the  good  offices  of  the  matron — the 
practical  sympathy  and  hearty  co-operation 
of  the  gentry  of  the  neighbourhood,  who  have 
assisted  them  in  transforming  the  House  from 
its  practically  crude  and  unfinished  state, 
into  the  up-to-date  condition  it  is  at  present 
in.  The  pioneer  was  Miss  Hamilton,  at  pre- 
sent Chairman  of  the  Portrush  Urban  Council 
and  Ballymoney  Board  of  Guardians  (the  only 
lady  in  Ireland  occupying  two  such  positions), 
who  is  daughter  of  the  late  Venerable 
Archdeacon  Hamilton,  Dromore  Rectory.  She 
gave  pictures  to  decorate  the  wards,  and  fold- 
ing screens  for  the  infirmary.  Thanks  to  the 
kindness  of  Miss  Clarke,  sister  of  Col.  J.  J. 
Clarke.  Maghera,  H.M.  Lieutenant  for  the 
County,  and  Chairman  of  tho  County  Council, 
enamel-ware  is  in  universal  use  in  the  work- 
house. The  first  feather  pillows  were  intro- 
duced by  Miss  Gough,  Maghera.  Forms  were 
the  seating    accommodation    in     tho    several 


wards,  and  through  the  generosity  of  the  late 
Lord  Spe.icer  Chichester,  D.L.,  who  for  many 
years  was  a  valued  ex-officio  member  of  tho 
Board,  arm  chairs  were  provided  and  proved 
a  real  boon.  Knives,  forks  and  plates  were 
also  provided  by  his  Lordship.  Tho  good 
work  begun  by  him  has  been  most  graciously 
continued  by  Lady  Spencer  Chichester,  who 
gives  a  cheque  each  year  to  tbo  matron,  by 
which  bathing  accommodation  has  been  pro- 
vided for  the  infirm,  healthy  and  children 
classes,  clocks  for  infirm  wards,  garden  seats 
provided  ;  several  wards  and  dormitories 
ceiled,  watnscotted  and  made  warm  and  com- 
fortable. Mrs.  Lenox-Conyngham,  wife  of 
Major  Lenox-Conyngham,  at  present  at  the 
front;  Miss  Lenox-Conyngham,  daughter  of 
the  late  Colonel  Sir  W.  F.  Lenox- 
Conyngham,  K.C.B. ,  for  a  considerable 
time  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Guardians; 
Mrs.  Clarke,  daughter  of  Col.  H.  S.  B. 
Bruce;  Miss  Cassidi,  Glenbrook ;  the  late 
Honourable  R.  T.  O'Neill,  M.P..  have  also 
contributed  in  making  the  workhouse  such  a 
pleasant  place  to  dwell  in,  and  in  which  the 
guardians  and  officials  take  a  pardonable 
pride. 

The  chairman  of  tho  Boards  of  Guardians 
when  the  Local  Government  Act,  1898,  came 
into  force,  was  the  late  D.  Campbell 
Gaussen,  B.L.,  J. P.,  Shanemullagh  House— 
a  position  which  he  had  occupied  for  nine 
years,  discharging  his  duties  to  the  utmost 
satisfaction  of  the  members  of  the  Board,  and 
to  the  benefit  of  the  ratepayers.  The  late 
Mr.  Gaussen  was  a  descendant  from  a  French 
refugee  Protestant  named  David  Gaussen, 
who  escaped  from  his  native  country  and 
settled  in  Newry,  Co.  Down.  His  wish,  it  is 
said,  was  to  settle  in  England,  but  the  vessel 
in  which  he  sailed  was  obliged  by  a  storm  to 
run  into  Carlingford  Bay  for  *  shelter.  By 
Dorothy  Fortescue,  his  wife,  he  left  at  his 
decease— 6th  October,  1751,  aged  87  years- 
three  daughters  and  one  son.  One  of  the 
daughters  married  George  Atkinson,  of 
Dundalk,  and  another  the  Rev.  Wm.  Lucas, 
vicar  of  Newry.  The  son  David,  also  of 
Newry,  left,  at  his  death— 4th  July,  1802— a 
daughter  and  a  son.  David  Gaussen,  who, 
after  residmg  some  Mine  at  Newry,  came  to 
reside  at  Ballyronan  House,  Co.  Deny.  In 
1778  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
James  Campbell,  of  Drumban,  Co.  Deny. 
He  was  succeeded  by  David  Campbell 
Gaussen,  who,  in  1812,  married  Anne. 
daughter  of  John  Ash,  Magherafelt,  and  died 
in  1853.  Ho  was  succeeded  in  that  year  by 
tho  subject  of  this  sketch,  who,  in  18G1, 
married  Annie  Catherine,  widow  of  Capt. 
Henry  Robe  Saunders,  R.A.,  and  daughter  of 
Wm.  Ottewell,  of  Dublin,  and  to  whom  wero 
born  two  sons  and  a  daughter— the  only  one 
living  being  Mr.  P.  C  Gaussen,  B.A.,  K.C-, 
Dublin. 


92 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Mr.  Shivers  has  represented  the  division  of 
Roektown,  without  interruption,  during  the 
past  46  years — a  record  which  it  is  anticipated 
cannot  be  beaten  in  the  three  Kingdoms.  In 
March,  1869,  he  succeeded  the  late  Mr.  Wm. 
Hunter,  of  Drumlamph,  in  the  representation 
of  that  division,  and  during  the  period  which 
lias  since  elapsed  ho  lias  faithfully  looked 
after  the  interests  of  the  ratepayers,  who  are 
proud  of  their  veteran  representative.  He  is 
hale  and  hearty,  and  it  is  the  sincere  wish 
of  all  his  colleagues,  without  distinction,  who 
hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem,  that  he  may 
be  long  spared  to  continue  his  good  work. 
In  1907  he  was  appointed  a  magistrate,  and 
ho  is  a  regular  occupant  of  the  magisterial 
bench  in  Maghera. 

The  elected  Guardians  for  the  year  ending 
25th  March,  1899,  were  as  follows:— Bally- 
moghan,  Robert  Ekin  ;  Ballyronan.  Alexander 
Burnett!  Bancran,  Charles  Heron;  Bellaghy, 
Henry  Kennedy,  William  Hogg ;  Brackagh- 
sliovcgallion,  Andrew  Latimer  ;  Carnamoney, 
Daniel  M'Kenna;  Oastledawson,  Henry 
M'Kendry,  J. P.  ;  Nicholas  Mulholland  ; 
Clady,  Robert  S.  Murdoch;  Desertmartin, 
Win.  J.  Hanna;  Draperstown,  Henry  O'Neill, 
J. P.;  Gulladuff,  Charles        Convory ; 

Inniscairn,  Hugh  Bradley ;  Lissan  Upper, 
John  Kano;  Maghera,  Samuel  Shiels,  Thomas 
Shicls;  Maghcraielt,  Thomas  Houston,  James 
Garvin  ;  Moneyhaw,  Robert  Bell  ;  Money- 
more,  Thomas  Carlcton  ;  Rocktown,  James 
Shivers,   deputy  vice-chairman;     Salterstown, 


James  Costello  ;  Springhill,  Joseph  Carson  ; 
Swateragh,  John  O'Kane,  George  Mullan ; 
The  Loop,  Andrew  Broun;  The  Six  Towns. 
Patrick  O'Kane;  Tubbermore,  William 
Anderson ;   Tullykeeran,  Andrew  Diamond. 

The  thirty  magistrates  with  the  highest 
valuations,  who  were  ex-ofueio  guardians  at 
the  same  time,  were:— Campbell  Gausscn, 
B.L.,  chairman,  Shanemullagh  House; 
Colonel  Clark,  D.L.,  vice-chairman,  Largan- 
togher  House;  Colonel  Sir  W.  F.  L.  Conyng- 
ham.  K.C.B.,  D.L.,  Moneymore ;  Colonel 
Bruce,  D.L.,  Ballyscullion  House  ;  Thomas  S- 
Ash,  Manor  House.  Bellaghy;  Lord  Spencer 
Chichester,  D.L.,  Moyola.  Park;  Robert  W. 
Forrester,  Cloverhill ;  Bgd.-Sur.  Watters, 
C.B.,  White  Fort;  Arthur  D.  Gaussen, 
Ballyronan  House  ;  Andrew  Brown,  Maghera- 
felt;  James  Harbison,  Magherafelt ;  James 
Sinclair,  Cavanreagh  ;  John  Weir,  Castlc- 
dawson;  Neal  M'Guckin,  Ballinderry  Bridge; 
Samuel  Porter,  Magherafelt;  Harpur  C. 
Davison,  Moneymore;  Wm.  John  Derby, 
Aughiim  ;  Thomas  Daley,  Bellaghy  ;  Thomas 
Meek,  Moneymore;  Wm.  Rutherford,  Derry- 
crummy,  Cookstown;  Robert  Johnston, 
Barley  Hill;  George  Ramsay,  Claggan, 
Cookstown;  William  Ekin,  Rockspring, 
Moneymore;  Felix  Fcrran,  Magherafelt; 
Henry  Devlin,  Moneymore;  William  Harbi- 
son, Magherafelt;  Mark  Davison,  Bally- 
scullion ;  John  Keenan,  Leitrim;  James  It. 
Leeper,  Drunascallion  ;  Peter  D.  Carleton, 
Draperstown. 


THE  BUILDING  SOCIETY. 


On  tho  6th  November,  1871,  a  Society  called 
"The  Magherafelt  Building  and  Investment 
Society,"  was  formed.  Tho  President  was 
tho  Master  of  the  Worshipful  Salters' 
Company.  Messrs.  H.  E.  Cartwright,  J.P- 
(agent  of  the  Salters'  Co.),  and  Hugh 
Walker,  J.P.,  were  Trustees,  and  Messrs- 
Archie  M'Fall,  James  Harbison,  Thomas 
Wilson,  John  Donaghy,  Richard  Donnelly, 
Thomas  H.  S.  Taylor,  and  Alexander  Johns- 
ton, were  the  Directors ;  with  the  Belfast 
Banking  Company  as  Treasurer,  ami  Mr. 
Samuel  Porter  as  Secretary.  Tho  object  of 
the  Society  was  for  the  purpose  of  raising,  by 
monthly  subscriptions,  a  fund  from  which 
money  could  be  advanced  to  its  members  to 
enable  them  to  erect  or  purchase  freehold  or 
leasehold  property,  and  for  that  purpose 
members  were  entitled  to  receive  advances 
out  of  tho  funds  of  the  Society,  to  be  secured 
by  a  mortgage  on  such  property;  and  also  to 
provide  for  its  members  a  safe  and  profitable 
investment  for  their  money.  It  was  decided 
to  hold  monthly  meetings  in  the  Town  Hall, 
Magherafelt,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  every 
month,  with  a  stipulation  that  the  meetings 
were  not  to  be  continued  after  half-past  9 
o'clock  p.m.  Only  members  were  to  be 
admitted-  The  officers  were  to  consist  of  a 
president,  seven  directors,  two  trustees,  two 
auditors,  a  secretary,  solicitor,  and  a  steward. 
The  three  directors  on  the  top  of  the  list  were 
to  retire  every  year,  but  were  eligible  for 
re-clcotion.  Any  vacancy  occurring  during 
the  year  was  to  be  filled  up  at  any  monthly 
meeting. 

Rules  were  drawn  up,  and  the  Society 
was  registered  under  the  Acts  relating  to 
Benefit  Building  Societies  on  the  15th 
November,  1871.  The  rules  provided  that 
any  member  who  was  present  at  any 
meeting,  and  when  called  upon  or  elected  to 
serve  in  tho  office  of  steward,  and  refused, 
was  to  be  fined  two  shillings  each  time  of 
refusal  ;  and  if  any  officer  became  bankrupt, 
insolvent,  compounded  with  his  creditors,  or 
ceased  to  reside  within  five  miles  from  the 
Town  Hall,  Magherafelt,  he  was  to  bo 
suspended  or  removed  from  office  Tho 
solicitor  was  the  late  Mr.  John  Glover,  and 
tho  remuneration  fixed  for  investigating  title 
to  all  property  offered  as  security,  and  pre- 
paration of  tho  mortgage,  was  as  follows: — 
In  caso  of  4  shares  £3  10     0 

do.  8     ,,  4     0     0 

do.         12     „  4  10     0 

do.         16     „  5    0    0 

to  be  paid  by  the  party  offering  tho  security- 
Each  steward  in  his  turn  was  to  attend 
every  monthly  meeting  at  7-30  p.m.,  and  to 
receive  tho  amount  payable  by  each  member, 
and  enter  same  in  the    pass  books  provided. 


They  were  not  to    receive  any     money  after 

9  o'clock,  and  to  pay  the  amount,  so  received, 
to  tho  bankers  not'later  than  a  quarter  past 

11  o'clock  tho  following  day.  Tho  shares 
were  £25  each,  payable  by  monthly  instal- 
ments of  2s  6d  per  share-  Each  member,  on 
admission,  was  to  pay  an  entrance  feo  of  six- 
pence per  share,  and  sixpence  for  copy  of  tho 
rules  and  pass  book,  and  in  ease  the  books 
were  lost  or  destroyed,  a  new  one  was  to  bo 
granted  en  payment  of  a  fine  of  one  shilling. 

"Advances  were  to  be  made  to  members  in 
shares  of  £25,  and  any  member  could  bo 
advanced,  on  loan,  at  "the  rate  of  £100,  in 
respect  of  each  subscribing  share  ho  held. 
When  any  member  required  a  loan  he  was  to 
make  application  to  the  secretary  and  lodge, 
if  required,  the  sum  of  5s  for  cveiy  £25  share 
in  his  application,  which  was.  to  be  returned 
upon  his  providing  tho  necessary  security. 
The  period  was  not  to  exceed  fourteen  years, 
and  tho  repayments  were  to  bo  mado  as 
follows  : — 

Loan  of  £100,  repayable  iu 

Monthly  and  Quarterly  Instals. 

14  years                   £0  18     7  £2  16  3 

13                                 0  19     6  2  19  0 

12  ,,  10  7  3  2  4 
11                                  1     1   10  3     7  2 

10  13  4  3  10  7 
9  ,,  15  3  3  16  G 
8  „  17  6  4  3  3 
7                                  1  10     6  4  12  3 

0  1  14  6  5  4  6 
5  ,,  2  0  0  6  10 
4,,  284  702 
3,,  323  980 
2   ,,  4  10  0  13  12  0 

1  ,,  8  13     4  26     3     6 
The  rate  of  interest  was  5  per  cent. 

Each  member  applying  for  an  advance  was 
to  pay  10s  for  each  survey  of  the  property 
offered  as  security.  A  .survey  committee  was 
then  to  be  summoned  and,  if  necessary,  they 
were  to  employ  a  valuator  at  the  expense  of 
tho  applicant.  A  date  was  then  fixed  for 
inspection  and  valuation  (if  necessary),  and 
if  tho  applicant  or  his  deputy  failed  to  attend, 
or  was  late  in  attending,  ho  was  to  bo  fined 
5s  in  each  case.  Any  member  entitled  to  an 
advance  was  allowed  three  months  to  find 
security,  by  mortgage,  to  tho  satisfaction  of 
the  Society.  Provision  was  also  mado  for 
power  to  sell,  redeem,  or  mortgage,  transfer 
and  withdrawal,  and  a  scale  of  fines  for  non- 
payment of  monthly  subscriptions  was  also 
formed- 

The  Society  continued  for  some  years,  and 
a  number  of  houses,  especially  in  King  Street 
and  Meeting  Street,  were  built  under  the 
facilities  offered  by  it. 


THE  READING  ROOM. 


In  1824  a  Reading  Room  and  Library  were 
established  in  connection  with  the  Sunday 
School  Society,  and  held  in  one  of  the  rooms 
of  the-  old  courthouse.  There  were  230 
volumes  provided.  No  Belfast  papers  were 
available,  owing  to  the  cost  and  means  of 
conveyance,  and  very  few  morning  pnpcrs 
would  now  adorn  our  breakfast  tables  at  the 
price  then  charged — 4d  per  copy.  It  is  not 
certain  when  the  Reading  Room  aud  Library 
ceased  to  exist. 

Prior  to  1891  the  want  of  a  general  Read- 
ing Room  was  greatly  felt.  Mr.  J.  I- 
Donaghy.  B.A.,  took  the  matter  in  hands, 
and  with  such  success  that  the  "Magherafelt 
Newsroom"  was  opened  to  the  public  on  the 
2nd  November,  1891.  The  papers  taken 
wore:  THE  NEWS-LETTER,  IRISH  NEWS, 
NORTHERN  WHIG,  FREEMAN'S 

JOURNAL  AND  NATIONAL  PRESS, 
IRISH  TIMES-  EVENING  TELEGRAPH, 
DERRY  JOURNAL,  COLERAINE  CON- 
STITUTION, WEEKLY  GRAPHIC, 
REVIEW  OP  REVIEWS,  and  PKARSON'S 
WEEKLY.  The  subscriptions  were  six 
shillings  per  annum  for  householders,  and 
three  shillings  for  clerks  and  young  men. 
The  officers  appointed  were: — President, 
Lord  Spencer  Chichester,  D.L.  ;  vice-presi- 
dents, Robert  M'Guckin,  solicitor,  and  James 
Johnston;  committee,  Dr.  Francis  Autcrson, 
J.P.  ;  John  Bodcn,  J.P.  ;  Andrew  Brown, 
J. P.;  John  Donaghy,  John  Glennane,  Janus 
Harbison,  J.P.;  John  Harbison,  solicitor; 
II.  E.  Kincaid,  M.A.  ;  James  Kilroe,  J.P-  ; 
Samuel  Porter,  J.P.  ;  John  Reilly,  D.L, 
R.I.O;  Agnion  B-  Vesey,  M.D.,  J.P.  :  lion. 
treasurer,  Mr.  John  Morrison,  and  lion- 
secretaries,  J.  I.  Donaghy,  15. A.,  and  D. 
Jamison.  In  addition,  the  following  accepted 
honorary  membership: — T.  S-  Ash,  J.P.  ;  J. 
Clark,  Rev.  Robert  J.  Charloton,  C.  W.  G. 
Dysart,  J.P. ;  A.  Fetherstonhaugh,  solicitor; 
Campbell  Gaussen,    J. P.,    B.L.;     A.    D.     A. 


Gaussen,  J.P. ;  T.  M.  Healy,  M.P. ;  Rev. 
Brice  Lee  Jackson,  M.A.  ;  B-  II.  Lane. 
Sessional  Crown  Solicitor;  Sir  Thomas  Lea, 
M.P.  ;  Garret  Nagle,  R.M.,  and  Lieut-Col. 
Waters,  CB- 

The  first  half-yearly  meeting  of  tJie 
subscribers  was  held  in  the  Newsroom  on  the 
3rd  June.  1892,  at  which  Mr.  H.  E.  Kincaid, 
M.A.,  Head-master  of  the  Rainey  School, 
presided.  Mr.  Donaghy  read  the  report, 
i  which  showed  that  the  committee  had  spared 
no  expense  to  make  the  rooms  as  comfortable, 
bright  and  attractive  as  possible,  but  he 
added  a  note  of  regret  that,  considering  the 
strictly  non-sectarian,  and  non-political  lines 
on  whicli  the  room  had  been  conducted — the 
small  attendance  of  members  had  caused 
great  anxiety  to  the  committee.  The  object 
of  the  newsroom  was.  in  addition  to  placing 
at  the  disposal  of  members  a  large  number 
of  papers  and  periodicals  at  a  cheaper  rate 
than  an  individuals  could  obtain  them,  to 
endeavour  to  bring  the  people  of  the  town  to- 
gether, and  to  promote  a  spirit  of  union  and 
sympathy  ;  of  friendship  and  good  feeling- 
The  efforts  of  the  committee,  however,  did 
not  receive  that  measure  of  support  which 
they  merited,  and  after  a  short  period  the 
undertaking  had  to  be  abandoned. 

Subsequently  an  effort  was  made  by  Dr.  E. 
Montgomery  to  revive  tho  Reading  Room. 
He  was  successful,  and  it  was  held  in  Garden 
Street,  in  portion  of  the  premises  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  J.  Cowan.  However,  it  otdy 
survived  a  short  time,  and  those  responsible 
were  obliged  to  give  up  the  idea. 

Somo  years  afterwards  a  Catholic  Reading 
Room  was  established  in  the  Old  National 
Schools  in  King  Street-  It  was  carried  on  for 
a  number  of  years,  but  it  also  has  practically 
ceased  to  exist.  Tims  Magherafelt  has  not 
been  very  happy  in  regard  to  its  Reading 
Rooms. 


SOME  LOCAL  HILLS. 


Magherafelt,  like  many  another  district, 
has  its  little  dark  history.  It  seems  that  a 
long  time  ago  a  murder  was  committed  at 
what  is  known  as  the  "Gallows  Hill."  From 
all  the  information  that  can  be  obtained 
locally,  and  which  has  been  transmitted  from 
generation  to  generation,  it  seems  that  a  man 
named  Farrel  had  accumulated  some  money, 
on  which  a  person  named  Donaghy  had  set 
covetous  eyes,  and  after  trying  various 
moans,  found  the  only  way  to  obtain  posses- 
_  sion  was  to  get  Farrel  out  of  the  way.  This 
'  he  accomplished  and  fled,  taking  with  him, 
in  addition  to  the  booty,  a  knitted  waistcoat, 
said  to  have  been  worn  by  Farrel  at  the  time 
of  the  murder.  When  Donaghy  arrived  in 
Belfast  he  pawned  the  waistcoat  and  pro- 
ceeded to  America.  After  a  sojourn  there  of 
seven  years  ho  returned,  called  at  the  pawn 
office  in  Belfast,  and  received  the  waistcoat 
he  had  pawned— the  pawnbroker  remarking 
ho  could  not  dispose  of  it.  He  wore  the 
waistcoat  in  the  district,  and  Farrel' s  widow 
identified  it  by  the  stitch  and  material  she 
had  used  in  making  it  for  her  murdered 
husband.  Donaghy  was  arrested,  tried,  and 
sentenced  to  be  hanged-  The  gallows  was 
erected  at  the  hill  on  the  old  road  from 
Magherafelt  to  Moneymore,  and  the  sentence 
duly  executed.  It  is  from  this  event  the 
Hill  takes  its  name. 

At  the  place  where  the  road  to  Megargy 
branches  off  the  road  to  Moneymore,  in  the 
townland  of  Coolshinney,  there  is  a  spot 
known  as  "Margaret's  Grave."  It  would 
appear  that  some  considerable  time  ago 
a  woman  named  Margaret  Osbourne 
lived  in  Coolshinney — in  one  of  the  houses  at 
present  owned  by  Mr.  Charles  Durnan,  and 
which  is  situated  quite  convenient  to  the  place 
referred  to.  One  morning  she  was  found  in  an 
out-house  hanging  by  the  neck  by  a  cord, 
which  was  attached  to  one  of  the  rafters. 
She  was  quite   dead     when     discovered,     and 


was  buried  at  Ballymoghan  cross-roads.  Tho 
people  of  that  district  did  not  relish  the  idea 
of  a  person  who  hanged  herself  "sleeping" 
in  their  locality,  and  lued  such  influence 
that  Margaret's  remains  wero  disinterred 
and  removed  to  Desertlyn  Old  Burying- 
ground.  They  did  not  remain  long  there,  as 
the  law  in  force  at  that  time  did  not  permit 
of  the  remains  of  a  person  who  took  their 
own  life  being  buried  in  consecrated  ground. 
They  were  again  disinterred,  but  where  they 
werfi  to  be  buried  was  the  question  which 
each  one  asked,  and  as  no  one  seemed  able 
to  answer  it,  the  people  were  at  their  wits' 
end.  However,  the  then  landlord  of  the 
townland  of  Coolshinney,  Olphert  by  name, 
healing  of  the  occurrence,  came  to  the  rescue 
and  had  the  remains  buried  at  tho  place  now 
known  as  Margaret's  grave,  and  in  order  that 
the  coffin  would  not  be  again  removed,  it  is 
said  that  he  caused  a  quantity  of  large  stones 
to  be  placed  on  the  top. 

The  four  principal  Hills  in  tho  noighour- 
hood  of  Magherafelt  are  Thompson's  Hill. 
situated  in  Ballymoghan,  and  which  is  308 
feet  above  sea  level;  Mullaghboy  Hill,  38G 
feet;  Bough  Hill,  304  feet,  and  "Windmill 
Hill,  situated  in  Dunamonev.  242  feet  above 
sea  level. 

It  would  appear  that  Killyfaddy  Dam  had 
been  artifically  formed,  as  a  breast  work 
extended  across  its  eastern  extremity  for  tho 
purpose  of  confining  the  waters  of  a  small 
stream  which  enters  it  at  its  western  end, 
and  which  rises  in  Desertlyn  Parish,  at  an 
elevation  of  300  feet  above  sea  level. 

Ballymoghan  Bog,  which  is  280  feet  from 
sea  level,  would  seem  to  have  been  at  one 
time  the  seat  of  a  small  lake,  and  the  pre- 
sent bog  may  probably  have  originated  in 
its  partial  drainage  or  absorption,  and  the 
subsequent  accumuation  of  vegetable  matter. 


THE  MAGISTRACY 


The  title  "Justice  of  the  Pence"  was  first 
conferred  in  England  by  an  Act  of  Edward 
IIL,  in  the  year  1360,  and  the  Commissions 
in  Counties  became  permanent  from  about 
that  time.  But  it  appears  that  almost  100 
years  previously — in  1264 — the  name  "Custos 
pacis"  appeared  for  the  first  time  in  English 
History.  At  what  period  the  title  of 
Magistrate  was  conferred  in  Ireland  is  not 
definitely  known,  but  it  is  supposed  it  would 
be  subsequent  to  1360.  When  Magherafelt 
was  first  honoured  by  having  uiio  of  its 
inhabitants  made  a  ''Justice  of  the  Peace," 
or  who  was  the  first  magistrate  was,  is  equally 
imeertain.  In  a  directory  published  iu  1824 
it  is  stated  that  a  court  leet,  or  manorial 
court,  was  held  monthly  for  the  recovery  cf 
debts  under  forty  shillings,  and  that  the 
person  who  presided  was  called  the  seneschal, 
who  was  the  agent  of  the  estate.  In  the 
directory  no  name  of  a  person  being  a 
magistrate  is  contained,  therefore  it  may  be 
assumed  that  no  inhabitant  had  that 
privilege.  The  title  must,  however,  have 
been  shortly  afterwards  conferred,  for  in  the 
year  1839  wo  find  Mr.  Andrew  Spotswood,  tho 
then  agent  of  the  Estate,  was  a  magistrate, 
and  from  that  time  onward  prominent  in- 
habitants were  appointed.  In  tho  year  1851 
the  Petty  Sessions  Act  was  passed,  but  long 
prior  to  that  date  Petty  Sessions  Courts  were 
held-  In  1837  these  were  held  fortnightly, 
and  a  Manorial  Court  was  held  monthly,  pre- 
sided over  by  the  agents  of  the  Saltcrs' 
Company,  at  which  civil  actions  within  tho 
Manor,  for  sums  not  exceeding  £1  16s  lid, 
were  heard  by  a  jury  of  twelve,  with  a  right 
of  appeal  to  the  Assizes.  In  Thorn's 
directory  for  1854,  tho  magistrates  for  tho 
Magherafelt  district  were— Captain  Francis 
P.  Cassidi  (afterwards  Colonel);  Lieut-Col. 
W.  F.  Lenox-Conyngham  ;  Wm.  Lenox- 
Conyngham,  D.L.,  Springhill,  Moneymore ; 
Robert  Peel  Dawson,  D-L-,  Moyola  Park ; 
Campbell  Gaussen,  Lake  View,  Ballvronan; 
John    Hill,    Tho     Castle,     Bellaghy ;      John 


Rowley  Millar,  Moneymore;  Rowley  Millar, 
D.L.,  Moneymore ;  Andrew  Spotswood, 
Millbrook,  Magherafelt;  Sir  Thomas  Staples, 
Bart,  LL.D.,  Q-C,  Lissan,  and  John 
Stevenson,  D.L.,  Fortwilliam,  Tobermore- 
The  Petty  Sessions  Clerk  for  Maghera  and 
Magherafelt  was  Mr.  Andrew  Cullen. 

Additions  were  subsequently  made,  in- 
cluding John  A.  Clarke,  Castledawson  ;  W.  A. 
Gaussen,  Ballvronan ;  Neal  M'Guckin, 
Ballinderry;  John  Weir,  Castledawson: 
Samuel  Porter,  James  Harbison,  jun.  ; 
Thomas  "Wilson,  Robert  Hanna,  and  Dr.  E. 
Montgomery,  of  Magherafelt;  Lord  Spencer 
Chichester,  D.L.,  Moyola  Park;  Peter 
Devlin,  Magherafelt;  Dr.  A.  B.  Vcsey,  Dr. 
F.  Otterson,  W.  J.  Derby,  Aughrim  ;  Henry 
M'Kcndry,  Andrew  Brown,  The  Cottage ; 
Samuel  Cathcart,  Grange;  J.an  es  R.  Leeper, 
Thomas  S.  Ash,  Mark  Davison,  Ballyscullion ; 
IT.  C.  Mann,  Drumlamph;  James  Kelly, 
Thomas  Daley,  both  of  Bellaghy  ;  Wm.  Harbi- 
son, W.  G.  Courtney. 

The  Magistrates  at  present  entitled  to 
adjudicate  at  Magherafelt  are— Col  S.  A.  M. 
Bruce,  Lieut-Col.  R.  P.  D.  S.  Chichester, 
D.L.;  John  Boden,  Alex.  L.  Clarke,  Daniel 
Convery,  Hugh  Devlin,  Patrick  Devlin,  Felix 
Ferran,  A.  D.  A.  Gaussen,  Charles  Heron, 
Lawrence  Higgins,  John  Keenan,  John 
Keightly,  James  Kilroe,  James  Larkin,  John 
Larkin,  F.  J.  Malone,  Michael  M'Kenna, 
Wm.  M'Millan,  Felix  O'Neill,  John  O'Kane, 
John  Pimley,  John  Rodgers,  and  W-  Q. 
Murphy,  B.L.,  R.M. 

Mr.  Wm.  Mitchell,  Castledawson,  held  the 
office  of  Petty  Sessions  Clerk,  and  on  his 
resignation,  Mr.  W.  J.  Thompson,  managing 
clerk  for  Messrs.  Glover  and  M'Guckin,  was 
appointed-  He  was  succeeded  at  his  death 
by  Mr-  D.  S-  Kelly,  and  on  his  death  the  pre- 
sent efficient  and  obliging  clerk,  Mr.  James 
A.  Harbison,  was  elected. 


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LATE  LIEUT.  A.  REG  ARTY.  R.A:M.C 


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MAGHERAFELT'S  ROLL  OF  HONOUR. 


When  the  time  arrives  for  the  writing  of 
the  history  of  the  present  war,  and  the  allo- 
cation of  credit  to  each  distict  in  Ireland  for 
the  voluntary  response  made  by  its  manhood, 
Magherafelt  and  district  will  occupy  a  pretty 
conspicuous  place.  Not  only  lias  she  given  of 
her  residental  sons,  but  also  those  who  had 
gone  to  Australia  and  Canada,  arid  who  were 
amongst  tho  first  to  answer  their  country's 
call,  and  the  acts  of  bravery  performed  by 
those  at  tho  front  have  received  well-merited 
recognition. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Magherafelt  men 
with  the  Army  or  Navy,  complied  from  all  the 
local  available  sources. 

KILLED  IN  ACTION. 
Lieutenant  Andrew  Hegarty,   R.A.M.C. 
Sergeant  W.  Munro. 
Private  Abraham  Stewart. 
Sergeant  Wm.  Adams,  R.F.A. 
Private  Terence  Blaney. 
Private  James  Hudson. 

WITH  THE  COLOURS. 

Captain— Dr.  H.  Harbison,  R.A.M.C 
(mentioned  in  despatches.) 

Lieutenants  —  Dr.  L.  M'Monamin, 

R.A.M.C.  ;  Dr.  John  Hegartv,  R.A.M.C.  ; 
J.  A.  M'Monamin,  M-R.C.V.S.  ;  W.  A. 
Gaussen,  R.F.A. ;  John  Bradley,  It.  Cassidi, 
Royal  Navy. 

Surgeon— J.  J.  Keightly. 

Sergeant-Major — Joe  Crawford . 

Sergeants— Thomas  H.  Avcrall,  R.F.A.  ; 
Robert  Brown,  A.SC  ;  John  Donnelly, 
R.I.F.  ;  James  Hamer,  King's  Own  ;  Marcus 
Maitland,  R.I.  Rifles;  Samuel  Hawe,  10th 
Inniskillings. 

Corporals— Alex.  Monteith  (Canadians), 
David  White. 

Lance-Corpora  Is— Thomas  Hutchinson,  J. 
Kennedy,  Wm.  Purvis. 

Privates — Wm.  F.  Anderson,  William 
Averall,  Bobbie  Averall,  William  Barnett, 
Walter  Bell,  R.A.M.C;  John  Bell,  J.  C. 
Bowman,  James  Brown,  John  J.  Brown, 
John  Brown,  Thomas  Bradley,  Robert 
Bradley,  J.  A.  Bradley  (Canadian),  Allien 
Cahoon,  Thomas  Cahoon,  Brown  Campbell, 
James  Campbell,  Joseph  Clarke,  John  Clcary, 
Patrick  William  Conway,  Kennedy  Crossett, 
J.  K.  Craig,  jun.  ;  Samuel  Bradley,  William 
Church,  J.  Cushloy,  Robert  Davison,  James 
Devlin  (prisoner  of  war),    Patrick    Doherty, 


Peter  Donnelly,  Joseph  Donnelly,  John 
Donnelly,  James  Donnelly,  Joseph  Evans, 
Robert  Foster,  J.  Foster  (Irish  Guards), 
William  Finn,  Henry  Glover,  John  Gilmore, 
Marcus  Hagan,  Robert  Hamilton,  John 
Hamilton,  Robert  Hamilton,  Joseph 
Hammond,  John  Hammond,  Patrick  Hanna- 
way  (injured),  R.  A.  Hanna,  N-I.H. ;  John 
J  oo  Hoaney,  Patrick  Hegarty  (Motor 
Service),  William  Herdman,  William  Higgins, 
James  Hudson,  Harry  Hudson,  Harry 
Hudson,  Thomas  Hudson,  John  Hughes, 
George  Hughes,  John  Hughes,  Thoniaa 
Hughes,  Willie  Hunter,  N.I.H.  ;  Joseph 
Hunter  (R.F.A.),  Hugh  Hurl,  Andrew  Hurl, 
Thomas  Hurl,  Robert  Hurl  (navy),  Hugh 
Johnston,       N.I.H-  ;  William       Johnston 

(wounded  and  missing  since  16th  May),  John 
Kearn,  John  Kerr,  Joseph"  King,  Samuel 
King,  Thomas  Kirkwood,  Daniel  Laughlin, 
James  Laughlin,  David  Lennox,  Thomas 
Lennox,  William  Logue,  David  Love,  William 
Lyttle,  William  J.  Lyttlo,  James  Magill  (in 
hospital),  Malcolm  Magill,  William  Magill, 
Joseph  Milligan,  William  Milligan,  George 
Monteith  (Canadians),  James  Moran, 
Archibald  Morrow,  John  Murray,  Tom 
Muldoon,  John  Moore,  Robert  Montgomery, 
Archie  M'Callister,  Joseph  M'Cartncv  (7th 
Leinstors),  Joseph  M'Cartney  (Roval  Dublin 
Fusiliers),  Francis  M'C'lernon,  J.  M'Clean, 
Jack  M'Cleery  (London  Irish),  James 
M'Cormack,  William  M'Cormick  (wounded), 
Samuel  M'Cormick,  E.  J.  M'Guekin,  John 
M'Guckin,  Peter  M'Guekin,  James  M'Guekin, 
Thomas  M'Guckin,  Patrick  M'Guckin,  Harry 
M'Guiggan,  Tommie  M'Hale,  Stephen 
M'Hale,  Charles  MTlhone,  Tom  M'lvor 
(Motor  Service),  Hugh  M'lvor,  Thomas 
M'Keown,  John  M'Murrav,  Thomas 
M'Murray,  Samuel  M'Nally,  Chat  M'Nally, 
George  M'Ncill,  John  M'Tcague,  James 
M'Mullan,  Thomas  Nevin,  Hugh  Niblock, 
Charles  O'Neill,  Joseph  M'Ncill,  Patrick 
O'Neill,  Willie  Palmer,  William  Patterson, 
John  Porter,  James  Porter,  Patrick  Purvis, 
Thomas  Payne,  James  Richardson,  David 
Ritchie,  Fred  Ritchie,  James  Semple, 
William  Stewart,  Willie  Stewart,  Willie 
Stewart,  Edward  Stone,  John  Stcenson, 
William  Teany,  Jim  Timoney,  Harry  Tohill 
(wounded  and  missing  since  August),  James 
Tohill,  Francis  Tohill,  John  Tohill,  Francis 
Tohill,  Peter  Tohill,  John  Trainor,  Peter 
Tucker,  John  Smyth  Walker,  Joseph  Walls, 
Arthur  Walls  (navy),  Samuel  Watson,  J. 
Weir,  Samuel  White,  John  White  (missing), 
John  Wylie,  Harry  White,  Richard  Watter- 
son,  Earnest  Watterson. 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Magherafelt  has  also  supplied  distinguished 
nurses : — 

Nurse  M.  A.  Doherty,  eldest  daughter  of 
Mr.  Philip  Doherty,  Queen  Street.  She  was 
trained  in  Dr.  Stephen's  Hospital,  Dublin. 
At  the  termination  of  her  training  she  was 
appointed  a  sister,  and  when  the  war  broke 
out  she  volunteered  and  was  sent  to  France 
where  her  devotion  to  duty  won  for  her  the 
highest  distinction  that  could  be  awarded  to 
any  nurse — the  Royal  Red  Cross. 

Nurse  S.  A.  Shields,  daughter  of  Mr.  A. 
Shields,  Gortahurk,  and  who  was  trained 
nurse  in  the  workhouse  infirmary,  also  volun- 
teered and  is  now  doing  duty  in  England  at 
present.  The  Guardians  released  her  for*  a 
year  or  until  the  war  is  ended. 

The  people  o,f  Magherafelt  and  district 
have,  since  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
loyally  supported  every  object  promoted  for 
the  welfare  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors.  The 
objects  have  been  managed  by  a  competent 
Ladies'  Committee,  of  whom  Mrs.  James 
Brown  was  the  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
That  the  Committee  were  successful  and  their 
efforts  fully  appreciated,  has  been  evidenced 
by  the  large  number  of  parcels  dispatched, 
and  also  by  the     numerous  letters     received 


from  the  recipients  gratefully  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  the  parcels. 

The  sum  of  £72  lis  3d  was  collected  for 
comforts  for  soldiers  and  feeding  of  the 
troops  ;  £51  10s  for  the  Red  Cross  ;  £16  16s  6d 
for  the  Ulster  Volunteer  Hospital  in  Pan, 
and  £10  17s  for  the  Ulster  Women's 
Ambulance,  besides  £88  for  the  ambulance 
for  South  Derry  exclusive  of  £10,  proceeds 
of  Miss  Bates'  lecture,  and  Jumble  Sale, 
£47  ls  6d— making  a  total  of  £303  3s  7d 
raised.  There  has  been  sent  five  large  boxes 
of  "woollen  comforts,  in  addition  to  the  Xmas 
boxes  despatched.  The  trouble  and  worry 
of  having  those  properly  transmitted  devolved 
on  Mrs.  James  Brown,  who  worked 
assiduously  throughout,  and  also  Mrs. 
Gillespie,  who  organised  the  Red  Cross 
collectors.  In  addition  to  the  amounts 
collected  for  comforts  for  the  soldiers,  etc., 
the  wounded  soldiers  to  some  extent  have 
also  been  looked  after.  Up  to  5th  January, 
1916,  the  Rev.  G.  W.  and  the  Misses  Lindsay 
have  had  collected  and  dispatched  13,761 
eggs.  In  addition,  Mrs.  Gillespie,  The  Manse, 
had  collected  Sphagnum  Moss,  which  grows 
in  the  locality,  dried,  and  sent  to  the  hospitals 
for  dressings  for  the  wounded  Soldiers  and 
Sailors.  Thig  moss  has  great  antiseptic 
properties. 


THE  LAW   COURTS. 


Amongst  the  numerous  stipulations  con- 
tained in  the  Charter  of  King  James  the 
First,  granted  to  the  Irish  Society  on  the 
29th  March,  1613,  for  the  Plantation  of 
Ulster,  was  the  appointment  of  a  Recorder 
of  Londonderry.  Consequently  the  office 
dates,  at  least,  from  that  period.  When  the 
holder  of  the  office  paid  his  first  official  visit 
to  Magherafelt  is  not  known,  nor  is  it  certain 
where  was  the  first  placo  in  the  town  where 
the  Sessions  were  held-  The  Old  Courthouse 
was  not  built  till  the  year  1804,  and  the 
Sessions  at  first  were  held  only  half-yearly— 
in  June  and  December.  Subsequently,  how- 
ever, quarterly  holdings  were  instituted. 
In  1854  the  Chairman  of  tho  Quarter  Sessions 
was  Wm.  Armstrong,  Q-C,  and  his  residence 
was  in  38  Upper  Gloucester  Street,  Dublin. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Mr-  Coffey,  who  gave 
place  to  Dr.  Ellington,  and  in  turn  he  was 
succeeded  by  Sir  John  Chute  Neligan,  who 
afterwards  became  Recorder  of  Cork.  The 
late  Recorder,  Judge  T.  G-  Overend,  K.C., 
the  present  Recorder,  Judge  T.  G.  Overend, 
K-C,  was  appointed,  and  continued  till  1912, 
when  tho  Present  Recorder,  His  Honour 
Judge  Andrew  Todd,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  K-C. 
(who  was  Co.  Court  Judge  for  Co.  Tyrone), 
succeeded  Judge  Overend- 

Judge  Johnston,  County  Court  Judge 
for  Counties  Monaghan  and  Fermanagh, 
was  born  in  Market  Square,  Magherafelt,  his 
father  being  tho  late  Mr.  James  Johnston, 
formerly  of  Magherafelt  (who  went  to  Belfast 
in  1879),  and  his  mother  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Mr.  John  Davidson,  Luney.  As  a  child 
he  went  to  tho  Church  School,  which  was 
then  under  the  care  of  Miss  Cowan.  Then  ho 
wont  to  tho  Meetinghouse  Street  National 
School,  the  teacher  of  which  was  Mr.  Samuel 
M'Murray.  In  Belfast  ho  got  his  secondary 
training  in  the  Methodist  College,  and  he  had 
his  university  training  in  Queen's  College. 
He  took  Iris  B.A.  in  the  Royal  University  in 
1888,  M.A.  in  1889,  and  LL.B.  in  1891.  Ho 
was  called  to  the  Bar  in  1892,  and  was  married 
to  Kathleen,  second  daughter  of  the  late  Mr. 
William  King,  Belfast,  in  1894.  He  took  a 
keen  interest  in  politics,  and  took  part  in 
many  contested  eleotions.  He,  himself,  con- 
tested South  Derry  in  December,  1910,  and 
was  beaten  by  the  present  Mr.  Justice 
Gordon,  whose  majority  was  333.  Judge 
Johnston  is  tho  author  of  several  legal  hand- 
books, including  books  on  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Act,  the  Lan^  Purchase  Acts,  and  tho 
Labourers'  Acts.  He  was  editor  for  many 
years  first  of  the  "New  Irish  Jurist,"  and  then 
of  the  "Irish  Law  Times."     In    1907  he    was 


appointed  counsel  to  tho  Treasury  and  tho 
Board  of  Works.  He  took  silk  in  October, 
1911,  and  in  the  following  month  was 
appointed  County  Court  Judge  of  Monaghan 
and  Fermanagh.  He  has  one  son,  William 
Denis  Johnston,  who  is  now  14  years  of  age, 
and  his  residence  is  CI  Lansdowne  Road, 
Dublin. 

^According  to  a  book  published  by  W.  P. 
Nimmo,  Edinburgh,  entitled :  "Law  and 
Lawyers,"  the  solicitor  branch  of  the  legal 
profession  seems  to  have  risen,  in  great  part, 
out  of  suits  in  Star  Chamber,  but  the  date  is 
not  given.  Be  this  as  it  may,  one  would  not 
like  to  contemplate  the  effect  on  our  business 
and  commercial  life  if  such  a  profession  did 
not  now  exist.  The  only  solicitor  Maghera- 
felt could  boast  of  in  1854  was  John  Lawrence, 
and  he  resided  in  portion  of  premises  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  John  Walsh,  The  Hotel, 
and  the  Commissioner  for  taking  acknowledg- 
ment of  deeds  by  married  women  in  Ireland 
was  David  Chambers.  Messrs.  Lano  and 
Proctor,  from  Limavady,  also  attended  the 
Sessions,  and  had  offices  in  town. 

The  late  Mr.  John  Glover,  solicitor, 
who  was  for  many  years  the  leading  practising 
solicitor  in  Magherafelt,  was  born  on  tho  21st 
November,  1829,  at  Gulladuff.  He  was 
educated  at  Queen's  College,  Belfast,  and 
entered  The  Assembly's  College  of  tho 
Presbyterian  Church  as' a  theological  student 
in  1853.  Subsequently  he  selected  tho  legal 
profession  for  his  career,  and  been  mo  an 
apprentice  to  tho  late  John  Bates,  a  native  of 
Knockloughrim,  who  was  then  a  very  pro- 
minent solicitor  in  Belfast-  Ho  was  admitted 
a  solicitor  in  tho  year  1857,  and  commenced 
to  practico  in  Magherafelt.  In  the  early  part 
of  his  life  ho  took  a  prominent  part  in  politics, 
and  was  a  pronounced  Liberal-  While  still  a 
student  in  Queen's  College,  Belfast,  in  tho 
year  1852,  he  took  part  in  tho  General 
Election  and  supported  Mr.  Samuel  M 'Curdy 
Greer,  who  had  published  his  address  to  tho 
electors  of  the  County  of  Londonderry, 
declaring  his  intention  to  support  measures 
for  the  legalization  of  the  Tenant-right 
Customs  of  Ulster,  Vote  by  Ballot,  and  Grand 
Jury  Reform.  Mr.  Greer  was  opposed  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Bateson  (whose  family  had  repre- 
sented County  Londonderry  for  30  years  prior 
to  1857)  and  Mr-  Jones.  Mr.  Bateson  waa 
returned  at  this  election.  Mr.  Glover  also 
took  an  active  part  in  the  elections  held  in 
March,  1857,  in  April  1857  (when  Mr.  Greer 
was  returned),  and  in  tho  General  Elections 
of  1859,  1860,  and  1865-  The  election  in  the 
last-mentioned    year     was    the    .cause    of    a 


100 


HISTORY   OF   MAGHERAFELT. 


number    of    actions    for     penalties     against 

several  conspicuous  citizens  of  tho  City  of 
Londonderry,  against  whom  extensive  bribery 
in  tho  Conservative  interest  was  alleged.  Mr. 
Glover  acted  as  solicitor  for  the  Liberals  in 
this  litigation,  and  obtained  verdicts  for  them 
in  several  cases.  About  this  time  there  was 
an  active  and  strenuous  agitation  through- 
out Ulster  in  support  of  "tenant-right," 
customs,  ami  when,  in  1SG7,  the  Salters' 
Company,  who  then  owned  the  Town  of 
Magherafelt,  attempted  to  increase  the  rent 
of  the  tenants  of  the  town,  Mr.  Glover  took  a 
very  active  part  in  resisting  the  increase,  on 
the  grounds  that  the  tenants  had  made  all  the 
buildings  and  improvements  at  their  own 
expense,  and  that  the  Company  had  never 
expended  anything  on  tho  town,  and  that 
there-fore  they  ought  not  to  tax  the  capita.! 
outlay  of  the  tenants  by  adding  an  additional 
rent,  and  so  crush  out  all  enterprise  of  the 
tenants.  In  the  following  year  he  published 
a  pamphlet  on  tho  management  by  the.  London 
Companies  of  their  Estates  in  Londonderry. 
It  was  primarily  intended  to  attract  tho 
attention  of  tho  Companies  in  London  to  the 
way  their  agents  treated  tho  tenants  of  their 
Estates-  It  was  extensively  circulated 
amongst  the  members  of  the  various 
Companies,  and  produced  marked  changes  for 
the  better,  both  in  the  methods  of  their  agents 
and  the  general  management  of  their  Estates. 
It  resulted  also  in  several  of  the  Companies, 
unsolicited  by  him,  seeking  his  services  pro- 
fessionally. On  the  severance  of  the  Liberal 
party,  caused  by  the  introduction  of  the  Home 
Rule  Bill  of  1885,  Mr.  Glover  (who  continued 
a  supporter  of  Mr.  Gladstone  throughout  his 
life)  found  himself  at  variance  with  the  views 
cf  the  great  majority  of  the  Ulster  Liberals, 
who  joined  with  the  Conservatives  in  opposing 
tho  bill,  and  he  ceased  to  take  any  public  part 
in  politics  until  1892,  when  he  acted  as 
election  agent  for  Mr.  Samuel  ^Talker,  after- 
wards Lord  Chancellor,  the  Gladstonian 
candidate  for  South  Derry  in  that  year-  Mr. 
Glover  was  ono  of  the  promoters  of  tho  Deny 
Centra]  Railway,  and  the  Draperstown  Rail- 
way, and  a  Governor  of  the  Rainey  School, 
and  always  actively  assisted  in  any  project 
for  the  assistance  of  the  town.  Ho  was  a 
st&unch  Presybterian,  and  a  member  of  tho 
Union  Road '  Presbyterian  Church  till  his 
death,  and  throughout  his  life  was  keenly 
interested  in  all  church  matters.  He  died  at 
Torquay  on  the  26th  May,  1895-  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Hastings,  a  daughter  of 
tho  late  William  Hastings,  of  Magherafelt, 
who  survives  him. 

The  late  Mr.  Robert  M'Guckin  was  son  of 
Mr.  R.  M'Guckin,  J.P.,  of  Ballyronan,  who 
had  been  an  ex-officio  Poor-La w  Guardian, 
and  was  educated  at  Armagh  and  Blackrock 
College,  Dublin.  Having  adopted  the  law  as 
his  profession,  he  served  his  apprenticeship 
with  Mr.  John  Glover,  and  with  such 
assiduity  did  he  pursue    his  studies  that    he 


was  awarded  the  gold  medal  in  his  final 
examination.  He  then  became  partner  to 
Mr.  Glover,  forming  the  well  known  firm  of 
solicitors,  Glover  and  M'Guckin,  whose  repu- 
tation was  not  confined  to  Ulster,  but  Mas 
known  throughout  Ireland.  On  the  death  of 
Mr.  Glover  he  carried  on  the  business  with 
consummate  ability.  He  was  solicitor  to  the 
Magherafelt  Board  of  Guardians  and  District 
Council,  local  solicitor  to  the  Midland  Rail- 
way Company,  the  Coleraine  Board  of 
Conservators  ;  in  addition  to  being  tho  legal 
adviser  to  all  the  principal  landowners  of  tho 
surrounding  district.  Outside  his  profession 
his  services  were  often  sought  after.  He 
took  a  keen  interest  in  Technical  Education, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  local  Committee, 
being  of  invaluable  service.  He  also  took  a 
very  active  and  practical  interest  in  any 
project  for  movement  which  was  for  the 
benefit  of  the  town  and  district,  giving  his 
time  and  services  most  ungrudgingly.  His 
delight  was  to  see  his  native  town  holding  her 
own  in  regard  to  appearance  and  comfort  of 
the  streets,  and  on  numeorus  occasions  ho 
supported  the  applications  made  by  the 
Market  Trustees  before  the  District  Council, 
for  the  improvement  of  the  streets.  He  died 
in  Harrowgate  on  the  19th  September,  1914. 

Mr.  John  Harbison,  solicitor,  is  the 
son  of  the  late  James  Harbison,  merchant, 
Queen  Street  (who  from  1874  till  1891  was 
one  of  the  guardians  for  Magherafelt 
Division),  received  part  of  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  National  School  which  was 
situated  in  Garden  Street,  and  taught  by 
Master  Trainor.  He  subsequently  went  to 
Armagh  College,  and  thence  to  Blackrock 
College.  His  desire  was  to  embrace  tho  legal 
profession,  and  he  served  his  time  in  tho 
office  of  the  late  Mr-  Alex.  Rorke,  solicitor, 
Donegall  Street,  Belfast.  After  a  very 
successful  course  he  was  admitted  a  solicitor 
in  Hilary  term,  187G,  and  ha.s  practiced  in 
his  native  town  ever  since-  By  the  death  of 
the  late  Mr.  Robert  M'Guckin,  he  became  the 
Father  of  the  Sessional  Bar.  He  is  of  a  very 
obliging  and  genial  disposition,  and  is  held 
in  the  highest  regard  by  his  legal  brethren. 
A  number  of  solicitors  who  have  made  their 
mark  in  their  profession  served  their  time 
with  Mr.  Harbison,  viz.— T.  J.  S.  Harbison, 
Cookstown;  R.  ITaldano  Carson,  Sessional 
Crown  Solicitor  for  Co.  Tyrone  ;  Joseph  L 
Donaghy,  B.A.,  solicitor  and  Registrar  of 
Co.  Court;  Louis  "Walsh,  B.A.,  Ballycastle, 
and  S.  J.  Millar,  B-A-,  Moncymorc-  He  also 
had,  for  his  clerkL  tho  lato  Mr.  John  H. 
Bradley,  wdio  afterwards  became  the  famous 
solicitor  in  Ballymena.  Mr.  Harbison  has  not 
confined  his  attention  solely  to  his  business, 
but  has  entered  largely  into  the  life  of  the 
town.  He  was  a  Director  of  the  late  Gas 
Company,  and  is  a  valued  member  of  tho 
Trustees   of   the   Magherafelt     markets     and 


THE  LAW  COURTS. 


101 


Town  Hall.    His  son  is    the  present    efficient 
Clerk  of  Petty  Sessions. 

Mr.  James  Brown,  solicitor,  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Mr.  Andrew  Brown,  J. P., 
The  Cottage,  and  was  born  on  4th  February, 
18G0.  He  was  educated  at  the  Royal 
Academical  Institution,  Belfast,  and  Queen's 
College,  Galway,  and  was  admitted  a  solicitor 
in  November,  1822.  Ho  is  one  cf  the  foremost 
Electioneering  Agents  in  Ireland,  and 
numbers  amongst  his  agencies  that  of  the  lato 
Sir  William  Findlater,  who  contested  South 
Deny  in  1885;  the  kite  Sir  Thomas  Lea, 
Bart,  M.P.,  in  1892  and  189G  ;  the  Right 
Hon.  Mr.  Justice  Gordon,  from  1D00  till 
1916,  and  Mr.  Denis  S.  Henry,  K.C-,  the 
191G,  and  Mr.  Denis  S.  Henry,  K.C,  in  1916. 
He  also  represented  the  Unionists  interests 
or  South  Deny  in  tho  Revision  Courts,  from 
1888,  and  is  looked  upon  as  the  Registration 
Solicitor  in  Ireland.  Ho  married  on  the  7th 
July,  1885,  Georgina  Greenfield,  only 
daughter  of  the  late  Robert  Shicls,  of 
Coleraine. 

Mr.  J  I.  Donaghy,  B.A.,  County  Court 
Registrar,  is  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  "!r 
John  Donaghy,  of  The  Square,  Magherafelt, 
merchant,  who,  as  one  of  tho  three  Original 
Trustees  for  the  Town  Hall  and  Markets?  did 
so  much  to  further  the  advancement  and 
prosperity  of  Magherafclt.  Mr.  Joseph 
Donaghy  was  born  on  31st  July,  18GS,  and 
received  his  early  training  under  tho  able 
tuition  of  Mr.  Matthew  J.  O'Neill,  N.T. 
Later  on  he  had  a  highly  successful  career  in 
the  Intermediate  while  at  St.  Stanislaus' 
College  (S.J.),  Tullamoro;  and  in  the  Royal 
University  while  at  Clongowes  Wood  Collcgo 
(S.J.),  Sailing.  He  received  hie  B.A.  Degreo 
in  the  Royal  University,  Ireland,  in  October, 
'89,  was  indentured  to  Mr-  John  Harbison, 
solicitor,  on  5th  November  following,  and 
was  admitted  as  solicitor  in  November,  1892. 
Mr.  Donaghy  took  an  active  part  in  the 
election  contests  in  South  Deny  by  Sir 
Samuel  Walker,  P.O.,  the  late  Lord 
Clianccllor;  and  later  on  by  his  Lordship, 
Mr.  Justice  Dodd,  K.C,  for  "the  latter  of 
whom  he  acted  as  assistant  conducting 
agent.  In  January,  1910,  he  acted  as 
election  agent  for  Sir  Samuel  Kcightlov, 
LL.D.,  who  contested  South  Deny  in  the 
Liberal  interest ;  and  in  the  following  year 
ho  acted  in  a  similar  capacity  for  Mr.  W.  J. 
Johnston,  B.L.,  tho  present  popular  County 
Court  Judge  for  Monaghan  and  Fermanagh. 
For  twenty  years  Mr.  Donaghy  appeared  in 
the  Revision  Courts  as  solicitor  for  the  South 
Derry  Nationalist  Registration  Association, 
and  took  part  in  many  a  hard  fought  battle 
against  that  veteran  in  Registration  Courts, 
Mr.  James  Brown,  who  acted  as  solicitor  for 
tho  Unionists.  In  September,  1912,  his 
Honour  Judge  Todd,  K.C,  the  learned 
Recorder     of    Londonderry,    appointed    Mr. 


Donaghy  to  act  as  his  County  Court 
Registrar  for  the  City  and  County  of 
Londonderry — a  selection  which  met  with  the 
unanimous  approval  of  the  entire  legal  pro- 
fession and  mercantile  community  in  the 
County.  Previously  to  this  Mr.  Donaghy 
had  practised  in  Belfast  since  1899,  retain- 
ing his  Branch  Office  in  Magherafclt,  but  on 
being  appointed  Registrar  he  gave  up  the 
Magherafclt  Office  and  severed  all  connection 
with  political  organizations  in  County  Deny. 
Mr.  Donaghy  has  been  concerned  in  several 
very  important  cases  in  Belfast,  tho  meet 
notable  being  that  of  "M'Cuskcr  v.  The  Lord 
Mayor  and  Corporation  of  Belfast,"  tho 
object  of  which  was  to  quash  the  re-valuation 
of  Belfast,  and  the  legal  arguments  in  which 
extended  over  six  days.  Another  important 
case  was  the  recent  famous  libel  action 
aga.inst  a  Belfast  Newspaper,  in  which  the 
late  Lord  Justice  Moriarty  (then  Serjeant 
Moriarty)  acted  as  leading  Senior  Counsel 
for  Mr.  Donaghy's  clients  in  the  two  hear- 
ings, of  twelve  days  and  nine  days 
respectively,  both  resulting  in  a  disagreement 
of  the  jury.  Mi-.  Donaghy  was  married,  in 
August,  1900,  to  Mary  Eleanor,  elder 
daughter  of  tho  late.  Matthew  Burke,  of 
Wcstport  House,  Middletown,  J-P.  for  the 
Counties  of  Armagh  and  Monaghan,  and  has 
four  children  living.  It  is  not  too  much  to 
s  iy  that  Mr.  Donaghy's  sound  knowledge  of 
the  law,  and  his  strict  impartiality,  com- 
bined with  his  unassuming  good  nature, 
ready  tact,  and  willingness  to  oblige,  have 
gained  for  him  the  esteem  and  friendship  of 
every  class  and  section  in  his  native  County, 
and  have  made  them  unite  in  hoping  that  he 
may  be  long  spared  to  discharge  among  them 
his  duties  as  a  County  official. 

Mr.  John  Lawrence  Rentoul  Hastings, 
third  surviving  .  son  of  William  Hastings, 
Esq.,  of  Rose  Lodge,  Magherafolt,  was 
apprenticed  to  Mr.  Joseph  I  Donaghy,  BA., 
solicitor,  and  admitted  as  a  solicitor  in 
October,  1912.  On  the  appointment  of  Mr. 
Donaghy  as  the  County  Deny  County  Court 
Registrarship,  he  took  on  the  practice  of  tho 
latter.  In  addition  to  being  a  solicitor  of 
great  promise,  ho  is  well  known  throughout 
the  north  of  Ireland  as  an  athlete,  and  had 
always  interested  himself  in  the  promotion 
of  all  branches  of  local  athletics. 

Mr.  James  Johnston,  son  of  the  lato 
Alexander  Johnston,  Magherafclt,  received 
his  early  education  in  the  Fair  Hill  National 
School,  Magherafelt,  under  tho  present 
teacher,  Master  Stewart.  He  afterwards  went 
to  the  Rainey  Endowed  School,  Magherafclt, 
taught  by  tho  Rev.  James  M'Feeters,  B.A., 
and  thence  matriculated.  He  was  then 
apprenticed  to  tho  firm  of  Glover  and 
M'Guckin,  solicitors,  Magherafclt,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1901.  In  January,  1907,  lie  was  admitted 
a  solicitor,  and  since  then  has  practised  in 
Magherafelt. 


102 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


Mr.  Vincent  M'Guckin,  who  is  the  solo 
partner  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Glover  and 
M'Guckin,  served  hus  apprenticeship  with 
Mr-  P.  J.  Henry,  solicitor,  Draperstown, 
and  wag  admitted  a  solicitor,  at  tho  Trinity 
Sittings,  1913,  having  obtained  a  special 
certificate  for  distinguished  answering  in  his 
final  examination.  On  his  admission  as  a 
solicitor  of  the  Supreme  Court,  he  became  a 
partner  with  his  late  father,  Mr.  Robert 
M'Guckin,  deceased,  in  the  firm  of  Glover 
and  M'Guckin,  and  continued  in  such 
partnership  until  the  latter's  death,  on  the 
19th  Sepember,  1914,  when  he  took  over  the 
entire  business  of  Glover  and  M'Guckin,  who 
have  for  many  years  carried  on  a  very 
extensive  business  as  solicitors  and  estate 
agents  in  tho  North  of  Ireland.  It  may  "be 
mentioned  that  they  recently  took  over  tho 
entire  management  of  the  Chichester 
Estates  in  tho  City  of  Dublin,  and  Counties 
of  Cavan  and  Londonderry,  whilie  the  Jones 
Estate,  comprising  extensive  properties  in 
tho  Counties  of  Down,  Armagh,  Antrim  and 
Louth  have  for  many  years  been  under  their 
guidance.  The  local  'business  of  the  Board  of 
Conservators  and  the  Midland  Railway  is  also 
entrusted  to  their  care,  and  they  are  retained 
as  solicitors  for  the  Swateragh  Turbary 
Trustees. 

Mr.  Thomas  Larkin,  court  auctioneer, 
of  Rainey  Street,  who  is  now  the,  leading 
auctioneer,  valuer,  and  cattle  salesman  in 
Magherafolt  and  District,  was  born  in  Glen- 
maquill,  near  Magherafelt,  in  the  house  at 
present  occupied  by  his  brother,  Mr.  James 
Larkin,  JP.    He  served  a  legal     apprentice- 


ship with  Mr.  John  Harbison,  solicitor,  into 
whoso  office  ho  entered  in  18S5.  After  a 
period  of  eleven  years,  during  tho  last  six  of 
which  ho  was  manager  for  Mr.  Harbison, 
he  took  out  his  licence  as  auctioneer  and 
valuer.  It  may  here  bo  mentioned  that  Mr- 
Larkin's  first  auction,  in  1896,  was  a  Court 
sale,  by  order  of  the  late  Recorder,  Judj^o 
Overend.  From  that  time  on  Mr.  Larkin 
made  steady  progress,  and  he  is  now 
admitted  by  all  to  be  one  of  the  most 
capable  salesman  in  Ulster.  The  present 
Recorder  of  Londonderry,  Judge  Todd, 
appointed  Mr.  Larkin  to  carry  out  all  sales 
in  his  Court,  and  he  has  done  so,  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  Judge,  the  Bar, 
and  all  parties  concerned-  His  auctions  aro 
not  merely  confined  to  the  Magherafelt 
district,  as  he  is  well  known  in  auctioneering 
circles  in  Belfast,  Londonderry,  Coleraine, 
and  Portrush,  where  many  valuable  pro- 
perties have  changed  hands  under  his  super- 
vision- His  horse,  cattle,  sheep,  and  pig 
sales,  within  his  own  covered  sale  yard,  at 
the  rero  of  his  premises  in  Rainey  Street, 
afford  an  excellent  medium,  where  farmers 
may  obtain  large  prices  for  their  animals  at 
small  expense.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the 
wine  and  spirit  business,  and  tarries  on  an 
extensive  trade.  By  the  late  Lord  Chancellor 
Walker,  he  was  appointed  Commissioner  for 
Oaths  for  the  County  of  Londonderry,  and 
he  represents  the  C.i.stledawson  Divison  on 
the  Rural  District  Council.  He  is  a  loading 
man  in  the  affairs  of  tho  town  of  Maghera- 
felt, and  is  very  popular  with  all  creeds  and 
classes. 


THE  MEDICAL    PROFESSION. 


According  to  Wellcome's  Nurses  Diary," 
Schools  of  Medicine  were  known  to  have 
existed  in  connection  with  the  principal 
temples  of  Egypt,  1,500  years  or  more  before 
Christ,  therefore  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  pro- 
fessions extant.  In  the  year  1824  the  Medical 
profession  in  Magherafelt  was  represented  by 
a  Dr.  Evans  and  Dr.  Shannon.  Dr.  Evans 
resided  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Messrs. 
Dickson  Bros,  and  Co. 

In  1842  the  Medical  Practitioners  had  been 
supplemented  by  a  Dr.  Schoales  and  Dr. 
Glenholm,  both  of  whom  resided  in  Market 
Street. 

In  "The  Mid-Ulster  Mail''  of  the  24th  July, 
1915,  the  following  appeared  : — 

In  the  "Personal  and  Incidental"  column  of 
the  "Whig,"  the  following  verses  are  given 
as  an  example  of  unmeasured  eulogy,  the 
subject  being  a  Magherafelt  doctor,  "who  no 
doubt  attended  the  grandparents"  of  the 
present  generation.  Can  any  of  our 
Magherafelt  readers  identify  the  doctor  for 
us? 

On  the  Death  of  Dr.  G— m,  late  of  M — t. 
The  splendid  monument  is  often  raised. 

Oft  stately  pageantry  attends  tho  bier 
Of  those  whom     none    but    sycophants  e'er 
praised ; 

O'er  whom  affection  never  shed  a  tear ; 
Whose  lives,  if  viewed  divested  of  that  glare — 

And  gilded  halo  which  surrounds  the  great ; 
How  vile  an  aspect  woulj.  their  actions  bear- 
How  little  to  commend,  how  much  to  hate? 
Not  so  the  man  this  town  hath  lately  lost, 

His  name  needs  not  the    sculptor's  meed  of 
praiso, 
Needs  not  a  monument  of  splendid  cost 

Instead  of  that  which  worth  alone  can  raise. 
Say  ye  who  know  him  best !  Say  ye  to  whom 

His  worth  was  known,  the  upright  path  ho 
trod, 
May  not  this  line  with  justice  mark  his  tomb? 

"An  honest  man's  the  noblest  work  of  God." 

In  all  probability  it  refers  to  Dr.  Glenholm, 
and  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  recollect  their 
parents  recounting  the  noble  acts  of  kindness 
performed  by  him.  Dr.  Shannon  died  on 
14th  May,  1890. 

Then  followed  Dr.  John  Stuart  Vesey,  son 
of  tho  Rev.  T.  Vesey,  Rector  of  Magherafelt. 
Ho  was  the  first  Dispensary  Medical  Officer 
of  Magherafelt,  and  also  of  the  Workhouse 
He  died  on  the  8th  October,  1874,  aged  59 
years. 


Next  we  had  Dr.  Francis  Auterson,  J. P. 
Ho  was  born  at  Coolsara,  near  Desertmartin, 
his  mother  being  one  of  tho  Kellys  of  tho 
Luney.  He  received  his  early  education 
under  his  uncle,  the  late  Very  Rev.  Samuel 
Auterson,  P.P.,  Kilrea,  and  afterwards  was 
class  mate  of  his  cousin,  the  Right  Rev. 
Monsignor  M'Gurk,  P.P.,  Maghera,  and  Col. 
Waters,  C.B.,  Tubbermore.  at  M'Closkey's 
School,  Tirgarvil.  He  was  M.R.C.S., 
England,  '59;  L.R.C.P.,  Edin.  '07;  L.M., 
Coombe  Royal  College  Surgeon  and  City  of 
Dublin  Hospital,  and  was  medical  examiner 
Government  Insurance.  He  was  uncle  of  tho 
lato  Mr.  Robert  M'Guckin,  solicitor,  and  died 
on  the  5th  October,  190>5,  at  the  ago  of  85. 

Dr.  Agmondishano  Blathwayt  Vesey,  J. P., 
who  resided  at  Bellevue,  and  succeeded  his 
father,  Dr.  J.  S.  Vesey,  as  Medical  Officer  of 
the  Magherafelt  Dispensary  District  and 
Workhouse.  He.  was  I,,  and  L.M.,  U.CS.I., 
1873;  L.  and  L.M.K.Q.C.P.I.,  1874;  L.M., 
Rotundlo  Hospital,  1873  (Trinity  College, 
Carmich  School,  Richmond  and  Rotundo 
Hospitals)  ;  Medical  Attendant  Con- 
stabulary;  Inspector  of  Recruits;  Certifying 
Factory  Surgeon  ;  Consulting  Sanitary 
Officer;  Medical  Referee;  several  Insurance 
Companies ;  member  British  Medical  Asso- 
ciation ;  late  Senior  Resident  Clinical 
Assistant,  Richmond,  Whitworth  and  Hard- 
wiche  Hospitals ;  Clinical  Prizeman  two 
years.  Ho  was  a  great  favourite,  a  thorough 
gentleman,  and  an  enthusiastic  hunter.  Ho 
died  on  tho  12th  March,  1901,  aged  53  years. 

Dr.  A.  Hegarty,  J. P.,  who  succeeded  Dr.  A. 
B.  Vesey,  J. P.,  as  Medical  Officer  of  Maghera- 
felt Dispensary  and  Workhouse,  had  been 
Medical'  Officer  of  Draperstown  Dispensary 
District  from  1887,  prior  to  which  ho  had  an 
extensive  practice  in  Kilrea,  and  which  he 
still  retains.  He  obtained  his  M.D.  in  the 
R.U.I.  in  1868,  and  M.Ch.,  1870,  Queen's 
College,  Belfast.  He  is  the  Medical  Atten- 
dant of  the  Police  ;  Post  Office,  and  Medical 
Officer  of  the  Railway  Benevolent  Society. 
He  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  very  clever 
and  capable  doctor  and  surgeon.  His  resi- 
dence is  Ardrath,  Magherafelt.  His  two  sons, 
John  and  Andrew,  both  took  medicine  as 
their  profession,  and  after  war  had  broken  out 
offered  their  services  to  the  Government, 
which  were  aeepted,  and  Andrew,  as  already 
referred  to,  being  killed  somewhere  in  France. 

Dr.  Mitchell  Hunter,  Broad  Street,  was 
born  at  Rowansgift,  Castledawson,  and  for  a 
number  of  years     practised     in     Sunderland, 


101 


HISTORY  OF  MAGHERAFELT. 


England.  Ho  was  Surgeon  of  the  Durham 
Light  Infantry  (Territorials).  He  obtained 
his  M.D.  in  Miami  Medical  College, 
Cincinnati,  in  1871;  L.S.A.,  London,  1882; 
is  Certifying  Factory  Surgeon ;  Medical 
Refereo  Scottish  Equitable,  and  other 
Assurance  Companies;  Member  British 
Medical  Association;  Recruiting  Medical 
Officer,  and  Medical  Referee  under  the  Work- 
men's Compensation  Act. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Kerlin,  Broad  Street,  is  a  native 
of  Garvagh,  and  youngest  son  of  Mr.  Philip 
Kerlin,  J. P.  His  brother  is  the  Rev.  C  H. 
Kerlin,  CO.,  Derry.     He  had  a  distinguished 


career  in  the  Mater  Misericordiae  Hospital, 
Dublin,  where  he  occupied  the  position  of 
Senior  House  Physician  with  much  accept- 
ance. He  is  an  M.B.,  B.Ch.,  B.A.O-, 
R.U.I.,  1907;  L.M  Honours  Rotundo 
Hospital,  Dublin,  and  at  present  is  enjoying  a 
lucrative  practice- 

The  other  medical  men  who  practiced  in 
Magherafelt  were  Dr.  E.  Montgomery,  Dr. 
Stephen  Garvin,  now  Medical  Officer  of 
Clonavaddy,  Dispensary  District,  Dungannon 
Union ;  Dr.  Charles  V.  Nesbitt,  now  of 
Randalstown,  and  Dr.  Wright. 


DR.  J.  P.  K 


MR.  THOMAS  LARKIN. 


MR.  J.  A.  HARHISON,  C.P.S. 


pfc-" 


MR.  JOHN  GEORGE,  V.S. 


Mil.  W.  WALSH,  V 


VETERINARY  SURGEONS. 


Mr.  John  George,  M.R.CV.S.,  was  born  in 
Ruskey  House,  Coagh,  in  the  year  1865, 
and  lie  received  his  early  education  at 
the  Intermediate  School,  Moneymore, 
under  the  late  Mr.  William  Crooks- 
Ho  adopted  the  profession  of  Veterinary 
Surgeon,  and  served  his  pupilage  under  Mr. 
Wm.  Barling,  M.R.CV.S-,  Newan  on  Severn. 
In  1387,  took  his  degrees  of  M-R.C.V.S.  and 
F.E.V.M.A.,  and  became  assistant  to  tho 
lata  Mr.  John  ltodgerson,  M.R.CV.S.,  Black- 
burn. In  1889  he  started  in  Magherafelt, 
where  he  still  holds  a  very  extensive  practioe. 
After  the  death  of  the  late  Mr.  Wm.  Sand- 
fowl,  V.S-,  Moneymore,  he  became  the 
Inspector  under  the  Contagious  Diseases 
Animals'  Act  to  the  Magherafelt  Board  of 
Guardians,  and  on  the  passing  of  tho  Local 
Government  Act,  1898,  ho  was  appointed 
Veterinary  Inspector  to  the  Londonderry 
County  Council  for  the  district  of  Maghera- 
felt— a  position  which  he  still  holds.  He  also 
had  the  honour  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
Royal  Dublin  Society  of  being  selected  as  one 
of  the  veterinary  surgeons  at  their  annual 
show  at  Ballsbridge.  In  1902  he  married 
Annie,  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Hugh 
M'Lernon,  one  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of 
Magherafelt. 


Mr.  William  P.  Walsh,  M-R-CV-S., 
youngest  son  of  Mr.  John  Walsh,  The  Hotel, 
Magherafelt.  Born  14th  December,  1887, 
educated  at  St.  Joseph's  National  School,  and 
St.  Patrick's  Intermediate  School,  Maghera- 
felt; afterwards  at  the  Dominican  College, 
Newbridge,  Co.  Kildare.  From  tho  latter 
College  went  to  the  Royal  Veterinary  College 
of  Ireland,  Ballsbridge,  Dublin,  and  was 
qualified  there,  on  12th  December,  1912. 
During  his  vacations  in  the  Royal  Veterinary 
College  he  spent  Ids  time  in  practice  with  Mr. 
William  Lamont,  M.R.CV.S.,  Cookstown. 
Mr.  Walsh  is  well  known  by  the  South 
Derry  football  supporters,  having  played  for 
Magherafelt  and  Derryloran  Football  Clubs. 
He  was  a  member  of  tho  Magherafelt  team 
which  won  the  South  Derry  League 
Championship  in  the  season  1912-13.  Ho  has 
represented  South  Derry  in  the  Inter-League 
matches  between  The  East  Tyrone  League, 
and  also  against  The  Coleraine  and  District 
League.  Whilst  in  Dublin  Mr.  Walsh  was  a 
member  of  University  College  and  Tritonille 
Football  Teams.  Mr.  Walsh  has  been  in 
practice  in  Magherafelt  since  he  was  qualified, 
and  was  appointed  by  the  Assistant  Director 
of  Veterinary  Services,  Irish  Command,  as 
Veterinary  Officer,  in  charge  of  the  troops 
stationed  at  Antrim  and  Randalstown,  on  the 
5th  November,  1914,  and  continues  to  attend 
their  daily  since  that  date- 


THE  COUNTY  COUNCIL. 


By  tho  passing  of  the  Local  Government 
(Ireland)  Act,  1898,  a  body  was  established 
in  each  County  in  Ireland,  called  Tho  County 
Council,  to  which  was  transferred  a  good  deal 
of  tho  business  of  tho  Grand  Jury,  including 
the  County  at  large  presentment  Sessions, 
the  business  of  the  Boards  of  Guardians  with 
respect  to  making,  levying,  collecting  and 
recovering  the  poor-rate  in  60  much  of  each 
County  as  is  not  comprised  in  an  Urban 
County  District,  tho  business  of  the 
Guardians  under  tho  Diseases  of  Animals ' 
Act,  1894,  etc.,  etc.  Rural  District  Councils 
which  are  practically  co-extensive  with  poor- 
law  Unions,  were  also  formed,  to  which 
were  transferred  the  business  of  tho 
Guardians  under  tho  Public  Health  Acts, 
and  the  business  of  the  baronial  Present- 
ment Sessions,  so  far  as  related  to  their 
district. 

Tho  Union  of  Magherafelt  was  divided  into 
seven  County  Electoral   Divisions : — 

MAGHERAFELT,  comprising  tho  Electoral 
Divisions  of  Ballymoghan,  Magherafelt,  and 
The  Loop. 

BELLAGHY,  comprising  the  Divisions  of 
Bellaghy,  Gulladuff,  and  Rock  town. 

DRAPERTOWN,  comprising  tho  Divisions 
of  Bancran,  Carnamoncy,  Drapcrstown,  mid 
Tho  Six  Towns. 

CASTLEDAWSON,  comprising  the 

Divisions  of  Ballyronan,  Castledawson,  and 
Sal  tore  town. 

MAGHERA,  comprising  tho  Divisions  of 
Maghera,  Swatoragh,  and  Tho  Grove  (the 
latter  belongs  to  Coleraino  Union.) 

MONEYMORE,  comprising  tho  Divisions 
of  Brackaslievegallion,  Lissan  Upper,  Money- 
haw,  Moneymoro,  and  Springhill. 

TOBERMORE,  comprising  tho  Divisions  of 
Dcsortmartin,  Inniscarn,  Tobcrmore,  and 
Tullykeoran. 

Clady  Division  is  included  in  Kilrca  County 
Division. 


The  first  representative  returned  on  the 
County  Council  for  Magherafelt  was  tho  lato 
Mr.  Samuel  Porter,  J. P.,  merchant, 
Magherafelt,  whose  ripo  experience  and 
shrewd  business  habits  were  found  most 
valuable  in  aiding  the  County  Council  to 
successfully  bring  into  operation  the  Local 
Government  Act.  He  continued  in  this 
capacity  for  six  years,  when  ho  resigned.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  T-  A.  M'Lernon, 
solicitor,  who  proved  a  worthy  successor  to 
Mr.  Porter,  and  his  services  during  the  three 
years  he  represented  tho  ratepayers  of  the 
Magherafelt  County  Division  are  gratefully 
romembord.  Mr.  M'Lernon  is  tho  oldest 
son  of  Mr.  Hugh  M'Lernon,  merchant, 
Rainey  Street.  He  served  his  apprentice- 
ship in  the  office  of  Mr.  James  Brown, 
solicitor,  and  was  admitted  a  solicitor  in  1890. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  practiced  in  his 
native  town,  subsequently  removing  to 
Belfast,  where  ho  at  present  resides. 

The  present  representative  is  Mr.  Andrew 
Brown,  Ballyeglish  House,  Moneymore.  Ho 
was  elected  in  1908,  and  since  then  has  repre- 
sented the  Division,  and  has  proved  himself 
a  wise  and  sagacious  administrator.  His 
experience  as  Chairman  of  tho  District 
Council,  from  1905  to  1908,  has  stood  him  in 
good  stead,  and  tho  ratepayers  interests  are 
admirably  looked  after  by  him- 

The  representatives    of  the    other  County 
Divisions  are  :— 
Bellaghy— John  Keenan,  J. P. 
Draperstown — Charles  Heron,  J. P. 
Castledawson— A.  L.  Clarke,  J.P. 
Maghera— Col.     J.       J.     Clarke,     Chairman,, 

County  Ceuncil. 
Moneymoro— Hugh  Thompson- 

Tobermore— J.  E.  O'Neill,  J. P.,     Vico-Chair- 
man    County  Council. 


THE  POST  OFFICE. 


It  seems  that  the  Post  Office  derives  its  name 
from  the  posts  or  stages  at  which  couriers 
were  maintained  on  tho  roads  of  the  Roman 
Empire  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  news  and 
despatches-  It  is  said  that  Cyrus,  who 
reigned  in  Persia  about  500  B.C., 'established 
post-houses  in  development  of  a  system  of 
couriers  existing  in  the  Persian  Empire-  In 
the  early  times  in  England  both  public  and 
private  letters  were  carried  by  special 
messengers.  Letters  were  conveyed  at  a 
later  date  by  tho  common  carriers,  who 
carried  goods  on  pack  horses  from  town  to 
town.  During  tho  latter  end  of  the  16th 
Century  post  horses  were  impressed  by 
Government  messengers,  and  a  penny  a  mile 
was  paid  for  their  services. 

The  first  inland  post  was  created  by  Charles 
I  in  1G35.  Some  years  later  eight  postal  lines 
were  set  up  throughout  England.  Postago 
on  a  single  letter  was  2d  for  80  miles,  4d 
for  1G0  miles.  Any  greater  distance  in 
England  Gd,  and  to  Scotland  8(1.  Tho  Mad 
Coaches  were  introduced  in  1784.  The  penny 
post  was  introduced  by  Sir  Rowland  Hill, 
on  the  10th  January,  1840.  On  tho  Gth  May, 
1840,  stamped  envelopes  were  issued.  Up  to 
1840  tho  members  of  both  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment were  entitled  by  Statute  to  send  free 
ten  letters  every  day,  not  exceeding  an  ounco 


in  weight,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  and  to  receive  15.  Tho  Post  Office 
Savings  Bank  was  established  in  18G1,  the 
Post  Office  Telegraph  in  1870,  and  tho 
Parcels  Post  in  1883. 

In  1824  the  Postmaster  of  Magherafclt  was 
a  Thomas  Dickson.  In  1854  Joshua  Adams 
held  that  position,  and  tho  mails  arrived 
from  Dublin  at  10-11  a.m.,  and  wero 
despatched  at  4-15  p.m.  Subsequently  a  Miss 
-Daley  was  appointed— the  house  slio  then 
occupied  being  now  in  possession  of  Mr.  P.  J. 
O'Kane,  publican,  Broad  Street.  Mr.  Joseph 
Campbell  succeeded  Miss  Daley — the  office 
being  removed  to  tho  premises  in  tho 
Diamond,  now  occupied  by  Mr.  John 
Itutledge,  draper.  Mr.  John  Morrison 
followed  Mr.  Campbell,  the  Office  being 
again  changed  to  its  present  location.  Next 
Mr.  Joseph  Breen  became  Postmaster,  and  ho 
was  succeeded  by  Miss  Lavery  (now  Mrs. 
M'Master),  tho  present  efficient  and  obliging 
Postmistress.  The  Assistants  arc  Miss 
Monteith,  Miss  Kelly,  and  Miss  Finn.  Prior 
to  1893  thero  was  no  general  delivery  of 
letters  in  the  country  districts.  On  tho"  20th 
Juno  of  that  year  a  partial  delivery  took 
place,  and  this  give  place  in  1897'  to  a 
daily  hou.so  to  house  delivery. 


THE  BOYS'   SCOUT. 


Tho  1st  Glenbrook  Boys'  Scout  Troop  was 
inaugurated  in  the  summer  of  1912  by  Miss 
Cassidi,  Glenbrook,  and  she  became  "Lady 
Scout  Master."  Mr.  Burton,  cashier  of  tho 
Bolfast  Bank,  was  appointed  Hon.. Treasurer. 
Mr.  Hugh  M'Master,  The  Diamond,  was  asked 
to  become  Scout  Master,  which  be  consented 
to  do,  and  has  held  that  position  ever  since. 
It  may  bo  interesting  to  noto  that  this  troop 
was  the  first  Scout  Troop  raised  in  South 
Dcrry.  It  flourished  so  well  that  it  became 
necessary  to  appoint  an  Assistant  Scout 
Master,  and,  Mr.  Ernest  Ritchie  held  tho  post 
for  some  time,  being  succeeded  by  Mr.  W. 
Grey. 

Tho  first  year  tho  Troop  had  a  membership 
of  24  boys,  and  of  that  number  10  are  serving 
their  King  and  Country  at  tho  Front,  and 
two  have  gone  into  the  Bank  service — a  very 
creditable  record  for  a  Troop  three  years  in 
existence. 

There  are  26  members  at  present,  and 
although  many  of  them  aro  quite  young, 
quito  a  number  have  taken  proficiency  badges, 
and  altogether  they  are  most  keen  in  their 
work.  They  have  three  meetings  in  the  week 
— ono  evening  for  Scout  work,  one  evening  for 


football,  and  one  evening  (Sunday)  "The 
Scouts'  Own,"  as  it  is  termed,  is  held  in  tho 
Scout  Master's  home,  and  takes  the  form  of  a 
short  bright  service  of  religious  instruction, 
etc.  Botli  Senior  and  Junior  Scouts  tako 
part  in  it  in  their  turn,  and  a  short  address  is 
given  by  Scout  Master.  The  great  event  in 
"Scout  Life"  was  the  inspection  of  tho  Ulster 
Troops  at  Belfast  by  the  Chief  Scout,  Sir  It. 
Baden-Powell,  in  the  month  of  August,  1915, 
,  and  the  inspection  and  rally  will  be  remem- 
bered as  ono  of  the  greatest  events  in  the 
history  of  1st  Glenbrook  Trocp. 

Tho  gentlemen  who  have  supported  the 
movement  since  its  inception  are — Rev.  G.  \V". 
Lindsay,  M-A.  ;  Rev.  George  Gillespie, 
M.A.  ;  Rev.  E.  Ritchie,  B.D.  ;  Dr.  Hunter, 
M.  B.  Redmond,  James  Brown,  solicitor; 
District-Inspector  'Wilbond,  John  Boden, 
J. P.  ;  Wilson  Gamble,  J.  H.  Crawford, 
"Walter  Bell,  and  J.  Stewart,  N.T. 

The  Troop  has  been  most  fortunate  in 
having  as  its  founder  Miss  Cassidi,  who  lias 
placed  Glenbrook  at  its  service,  and  in  Mr. 
M'Master  they  have  an  ideal  Scout  Master, 
while  the  present  Assistant  Scout  Master  is 
all  that  could  be  desired. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


Appended  is  a  full  list  of  the  subscribers 
through  whose  patronage  this  work  lias 
been  enabled  to  be  published.  The  names 
are  given  in  the  order  received  under  each 
quantity : — 

TWELVE  COPIES. 
HIS  HONOUR  JUDGE  JOHNSTON,  K.C 

TEN  COPIES. 
JOSEPH  I.  DONAGHY,  B.A.,  solicitor,    and 

Co.  Couri  Registrar. 
W.  K.  DOHERTY,  of    The    Doherty    Manu- 
facturing  Company,   Toronto. 
THOMAS         LARKIN,         ll.D.C,       Court 

Auctioneer,    Magherafelt. 
EIGHT  COPIES. 
MRS.  C.  CONVERY,  Gulladuff. 

SIX  COPIES. 
T.  J.  M'MENAMIN,  Magherafelt. 
LAWRENCE      R.      HASTINGS,       solicitor, 

Magherafelt. 
J.  E.  O'NEILL,  J.P.,  C.Clr.,  Maghcra. 

FIVE  COPIES. 
ANDREW  G.  SLOAN.  Portadown. 
ALFRED     MOORE-MUNN,     Clerk     of    the 

Crown  and  Peace,  Londonderry. 
R.  HOUSTON,  Upperlands. 

FOUR  COPIES. 
JOHN  RODGERS,  JP.,  Ballynagowan. 
HUGH  and  SARAH  DOUGLAS,  Coolshinnoy, 

Magherafelt. 
MRS.    E.   LOUGHRAN,     Craigavon,     Port- 

stowart. 

THREE  COPIES. 
REV.  G.  GILLESPIE,  MA.,  Magherafelt. 
MRS-  WM.  BELL,  do- 

MISS  M.  J.  If.  ALLEN,  do- 

H.  E.  MONTEITH,  C.PS  ,  Dromore. 
ROBERT  COUSLEY,  Redford,  Moneymore. 
ROBERT     HAMILTON,     Ballymuckleheany, 

Moneymore. 
B.  GALWAY  &  SONS,  Magherafelt. 
MISS  HAMILTON,  Portrush. 
JOHN  WALSH,  Hotel,  Magherafelt- 
J.     A.     CALVIN,     LL.B.,     Rainey      School, 

Magherafelt. 
W.  P.  WALSH,  V.S.,  Magherafelt. 
JAMES    J.     O'KELLY,    M-B.,    53    Rathgar 

Road,  Dublin. 
ROWLEY   ELLIOTT,   J. P.,    R.D.C.,    Congli 

TWO  COPIES. 
MISS  MONTEITH,  Magherafelt. 

JOHN  SHIELS,  do. 

JOHN  SEMPLE,  do- 

REV.  E.  RITCHIE.  B.D.,  do. 

MISS  BARBER,  do. 

WALTER  BELL,  do. 


MISS  A.  H.  REID.  do. 

ROBERT  CHRISTIE,  do. 

SAMUEL  BARCLAY,  Mcgargy. 
JAMES  NORWELL,  Tullylinksay,  Maghera- 
felt. 
T.  W.  GIBSON,  Drumgooland,  Ormeau  Road, 

Belfast. 
REV.  W.  T.  LATIMER,  D.D.,  Eglish.    Dun- 

gannon. 
W.  MAYES.  Belfast. 
WM.     D.    COUSINS,      Principal     Technical 

School,   Magherafelt. 
A.  W.  GLOVER,  solicitor,  Dublin. 
CHARLES  O'HARA,  J.P.,  Maghera. 
JAMES  SHIVERS,  J.P.,  Broagh. 
FRANCIS  CONVERY,  Dieenan. 
A.  J.  M'KINLAY,  Belfast. 
MRS.  W.  G.  SLOAN,  Annahavil,  Moneymore. 
JAMES  JOHNSTON,  solicitor. 
MRS.       N.      RUSSELL,      Cheadlo      Heath, 

Cheshire. 
DR.  THOMPSON,  J.P.,  Bellaghy. 
W.  J.  MORROW,  St.  Helena,  Ballyronan. 
MISS  S.  B.  PORTER,  Curran  Road,  Castle- 

dawson- 
ROBERT  COUSLEY,  Gortagillv,  Moneymore. 
CHARLES  M'NICHOLL,  Crafton,  Pittsburg, 

U.S.A. 
MRS.  M'CANDLESS,  Magherafelt. 
ALEX.    CROOKS,     J.P.,     Lissan,  Hampton 

Park,  Belfast. 
MRS.   MUNRO,   Magherafelt. 
S.  G.  DERBY,  Belfast. 
THOMAS  M'COMBE,     Anaghmore,     Castle- 

dawson- 
TEADY  M'ERLEAN,  Clady. 
R.  J.  KEENAN,  Magherafelt. 

ONE  COPY. 
MISS  CASSIDI,  Glenbrook. 
J.  W.  KERNOHAN,  M.A.,  Hon.  Secy,  of  the 

Presbyterian      Historical       Society        of 

Ireland,  Belfast. 
REV.  G.  W.  LINDSAY,  A.M.,  MaKherafelt. 

JOHN  HARBISON,  solicitor,  do. 

JAMES  BROWN,  solicitor.  do. 

JOHN  H.  CRAWFORD,  do. 

WM.  OLIPIIANT,  do. 

JAMES  KILROE,  J. P.,  do. 

LAWRENCE  HIGGINS,  J. P.  do. 

JOHN  KEIGHTLY,  J.P.  do. 

JOHN  BOWDEN,  J.P.,  do. 

JOHN  GAMBLE,  do. 

HUGH  M'LERNON,  do- 

MRS.  GALWAY,  The  Cottage,  do. 

DR.  J.  P.  KERLIN,  do- 

JOHN  GEORGE,  V.S.,  do- 

MRS.  T.  C.  MONTEITH,  do. 

MRS.  M'MASTER,  do. 

MISS  K.  KELLY,  do. 


no 


HISTORY  OF   MAGHERAFELT. 


JOHN  WALSH,  Hotel,  do. 

JOHN  M'FARLANE,  do. 

JAMES  HARBISON,  C.P-S.,        do. 
M.  B.  REDMOND.  Manager 

Belfast  Bank,  do. 

S.  W.  H.  BURTON,  Cashier 

Belfast  Bank,  do. 

JOB  LOGAN,  do. 

W.  J.  M'CAUSLAND,  do. 

S.  B   CALDWELL,  do. 

H.  FIELDS,  do- 

DICKSON  BROS.  &  CO.  do- 

H.  HEPBURN,  do. 

HUGH  GILMARTIN.  do. 

MISS  FRANCES  BROWN. 

Tho  Cottage,  do. 

VINCENT  M'GUCKIN, 

solicitor,  do. 

W.  POLLOCK,  do. 

J.  WILBOND.  D.I.,  R.I.C,  do. 

ROBERT  M'CLEERY,  do- 

LOUIS  SMYTH,  do. 

T.  J.  M'LERNON,  do. 

MISS  M'CAW,  do. 

MRS.  J.  CROSSETT,  Carmain,     do. 
H.     A.     MACAULAY,     Moyola     Park  N.S. 

Castledawson. 
HUGH    M'GUCKIN,    J. P.,       Lake      Lodge 

Ballyronan. 
REV.    W.    H.      DUNDAS,      Tho      Rectory, 

Magheragall. 
WM.  HURL,  Upper  Meadow  Street,  Belfast 
HUGH  BRYSON,  Ballymultrea. 
JOHN  WHITE,  do. 

REV.  T.  J.  L.  MARSHALL,  B.A.,  Maghora 
MISS  WRIGHT,  Lurgan. 
NURSE  S.  J.  CAULFIELD,  Belfast. 
MISS  DINSMORE,  Cookstown. 
MISS  LAPPEN,  Cookstown. 
WM.  DITTY,  Oldtown,  Mcgargv. 
J.  HOUSTON,  Aghagaakin. 
S.  D.  LYTLE,  Maghera. 
A.  T    M'CLELLAND,  Secy.  C.P.A.,  Belfast, 
JOSEPH  DAVISON,  Bellaghy. 
A.  ALBERT  CAMPBELL,  solicitor,  Belfast. 
JAMES  G.  MARKS,  Belfast. 
JAMES  IL.  EAKIN,  Drumcovitt,  Feenv. 
R.  HARRIS,  V.S.,  Moneyrnore. 
R.  A.  HOUSTON,  Upperlands. 
MRS.  ANDERSON,  P.O.,  Castledawson. 
MR.  HAMMOND,  do. 

REV.  W.  E.  MAGUIRE.    Methodist    Manse, 

Glenavy. 
DAVID  LAVERY,  Londonderry. 
TENISON  GROVEvS.  Record  Agent,  Dublin. 
C.  A.  WRAY,  Cookstown. 
MISS  HUTCHINSON,  Low  Cross,  Cookstown. 
MRS.  S.  BEATTIE,  Kilcronagh,  do. 

M.  A.  LOWRY,  Cranny,  do- 

M.  H.  MONTEITH,  Londonderry. 
W.  Q.  MURPHY,  B.L.,  R.M.,  Coleraine. 
MICHAEL  M'KENNA,  J. P.,  Croagh. 
JOHN  KANE,  J.P-,  Castledawson. 
JOHN  O'HAGAN,  J.P-,  Inniscarn. 
FIENRY  PALMER,  R.D.C,  Killybogan. 
HENRY  PORTER,       do.  do. 


W.  J.  HANNA,  R.D.C,  Ballynagown- 

JOHN  PARKE,  R.D.C,  Grange. 

JOSEPH  BROWN,  Ballynagown. 

WILLIAM  RODGERS,  Ballygillon. 

JAMES  KANE,  Dromoro. 

JAMES  PALMER,  Desertmartin. 

MRS.  GORMLY,  do. 

ROBERT  MITCHELL,     do- 

JAMES  HUTCHISON,  Luney- 

JOHN  K.  CRAIG,  do. 

THOMAS  J.  HENRY,  Oak  Island  Farm. 

MISS  L.  JOHNSTON,  Manchester. 

SUB.-LIEUT.  R.  A.  CASSIDI,  R-N-,  H.M-S. 
Ferret. 

WM.  MILLER,  Gas  Works,  Cookstown. 

MRS.  ANDREW  M'CORMICK,  Brookend, 
Stewartstown. 

JOHN  M'KEE,  Belfast. 

ROBERT  GLASSY,  Lammy,  Cookstown. 

REV    R.  M'CAMMON,  Lecumpher  Manse. 

MISS  PORTER,  Magherafelt. 

C.  H.  STIMPSON,  Magherafelt. 

JOHN    STEWART,    Glenmaquill. 

H    FIELD,  Monevmoie. 

JAMES  PALMER,  Curr.      . 

MRS.  CAULEY,  Diaperstown. 

JAMES  PALMER,  Jim.  (Grocer),  Desert- 
martin. 

JOHN  GORDON,  M-P.,  Attorney-General 
for  Ireland. 

II   H.  HOUSTON,  Antrim  Road,  Belfast 

JOB  PALMER,  Moira,  Co.  Down. 

HUGH   TOHILL,    Stewartstown. 

J.  F.  COONEY,  Moneyrnore. 

JOHN   BROWN,   Gortnagross,   Cookstown. 

J.  M'NICHOLL,  C.P.S.,  Diaperstown. 

A.  W.  STEWART,  Evg.  Telegraph,  Belfast. 

S.  E.  MINNIS,  Lisrowan,  Sunuingsfield 
Road,  N.W. 

M.  MURRAY,  R.I.C,  Magherafelt. 

THOMAS  STEWART,  Magherafelt. 

WILLIAM  STEWART,   Ballyheifer. 

J.  NEVIN.  Leckagh. 

J.  C.  CLARK,  The  Bungalow,  Castledawson. 

J.  A.  CLARK,  Gravesend,  Castledawson. 

H.  J.  CLARK,  Upperlands. 

A-  W.  CLARK*],  Ampertain,  Upperlands. 

MRS.  GEORGE,  Magherafelt. 

M.  J.  O'NEILL,  Magherafelt. 

JOSEPH  COWAN,  Magherafelt. 

MISS  MORRISON,  Ballyronan. 

CHARLES  GLENN,  N.T.,  Dromore. 

MRS.  SAMUEL  HALL,  Leekagh. 

MRS.  W.  HURL,  Leckagh. 

JOSEPH  M'GUONE,  BaUiuderry. 

HUGH  M'GUCKIN,  J. P.,  Lake  Lodge, 
Ballyronan. 

LOUIS  J.  WALSH,  B.A.,  solicitor,  Bally- 
castle. 

ALEXANDER  DIXON,  Ballycastlo. 

JOHN  B.  HENRY,  Culduff,  Co-  Donegal. 

REV.  SAMUEL  FERGUSON,  B.A., 
Faugha.n,  Londonderry. 

WM.  FERGUSON,  Tevena,  Ardtrea. 

JOSEPH  TOHILL,  Stewartstown- 

MRS.  M'LEAN,  Motalee. 


SUBSC  RIBERS. 


Ill 


ROBERT  CROOKS,  Cliftonville,  Belfast. 

FELIX  LAVERTY,  J.P.,  Elagh,  Stewarts- 
town. 

E.  PORT,  Rhosgoch,  Anglesea. 

JAMES  M'GILL,  The  Rock,  Deny  City. 

T.  J.  M'NICHOLL,  Magherafelt. 

S.  A.  HUNTER,  Title  Office,  Londonderry. 

DAVID  GRIFFIN,  Wishaw,  Scotland. 

GEORGE  GILMORE,  Ballymaguiggan 

MRS.   RACHEL  SPEERS,   Gracefield. 

ROBERT  DAVISON,  Lisalbanagh. 

MRS.  MARY  WHINNERY,  Curglasson. 

DR.  J.  \V.  SCOTT,  Coalisland. 

SAMUEL  PURVIS,  Roshure- 

DR.  J.  J.  O'KELLY,  53  Rath  gar  Road, 
Dublin. 


GEORGE  CLARKE,  Lisnamorrow. 
MISS  ARABELLA  M'CULLAGH,  Coagh- 
S.  M.  M'CULLY,  I.R.O.,  Magherafelt- 
S.  J.  HAMILTON,   Barbertun,   Transvaal. 
WM.  B.  CANNING,  Doneybraggy. 
R.   LAVERY,   Rainey  Street,   Magherafelt. 
CHARLES  L.  BODDIE,  A-M.I.C.E.,  London- 
derry. 
JOHN  KEARNEY,  Magherafelt. 
WILLIAM  TAYLOR,   Magherafelt. 
MRS.  CAULEY,  Straw. 
MISS  SPEERS,  Ballynockor. 
MRS.  O'NEILL,  Jarrow. 
MRS.  M'DONALD,  Cockburnspath. 
FRANCIS  L.  CASSIDI,  Glenbrook. 
JAMES   BADGER,    Dunamou,    Magherafelt. 


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